In Rural Minnesota Mental Health Care is Scarce For BIPOC Residents

(Adobe Stock via Minnesota News Connection)

(By Mike Moen. Minnesota News Connection) – Finding a mental health provider in rural areas is hard but Minnesota researchers said it is much harder for communities of color in small towns and a new report laid out specific obstacles to care and solutions showing hope.

The Center for Rural Policy and Development said rural communities across the state are becoming more diverse but the Center’s latest report showed there is still little awareness about the mental health needs of people of color in these areas. Lack of insurance, stigma, and trust issues are factors complicating the issue.

Marnie Werner, vice president of research and operations at the center, said refugee and immigrant populations also tend to be isolated from their small-town neighbors.

“Information doesn’t travel instantly in rural areas,” Werner pointed out. “If you have a group of people who aren’t in constant communication with everybody else, they may not know about or learn about things as quickly as the general population.”