AN OVERVIEW OF RURAL YOUTH'S MENTAL HEALTH STATUS AND SERVICES

ON A NATIONAL BASIS THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THE TOTAL POPULATION ARE NOT BEING ADEQUATELY MET, AND THE RURAL SEGMENT (ESPECIALLY RURAL YOUTH) OF THE POPULATION FARES EVEN WORSE THAN ITS URBAN COUNTERPART. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS INADEQUACY INCLUDE--(1) LOWER INCOME, (2) SPARSITY OF POPULATION, (3) LOWER EDUCATIONAL LEVELS, AND (4) THE HIGHER COST OF PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS. EVEN THOUGH OUTPATIENT CLINICS REPRESENT THE MAJOR MODEL FOR THE CARE AND TREATMENT OF THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF RURAL YOUTH, THE HARD DATA SHOW THAT THESE FACILITIES FREQUENTLY ARE UNAVAILABLE TO THOUSANDS OF RURAL YOUTH, AND WHEN AVAILABLE OFTEN PROVIDE ONLY MINIMAL LEVELS OF TREATMENT. TO COMBAT THESE DEFICIENCIES, THE CONGRESS ENACTED COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION IN 1964. WHEN THE FULL RANGE AND COMPLEMENT OF SERVICES AND PROGRAMS ENVISAGED BY THIS LEGISLATION ARE OPERATIONAL, IT WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR RURAL YOUTH TO DERIVE OPTIMAL MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS. THIS SPEECH WAS DELIVERED AT THE NATIONAL OUTLOOK CONFERENCE ON RURAL YOUTH, OCTOBER 23-26, 1967, WASHINGTON, D. C., SPONSORED JOINTLY BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE, HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE, INTERIOR, AND LABOR, OEO, AND THE PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON YOUTH OPPORTUNITY. (ES)