Abstract
Developing consumer-oriented programs for ruralareas presents a major challenge for practitioners andpolicy makers. The mental health consumer movement, asuccessful urban creation, has yet to fully impact rural practice and be of benefit to individualswith severe and persistent mental illness. Rural mentalhealth professionals face unique challenges andopportunities in utilizing rural strengths to foster consumer participation in the design andimplementation of service delivery. The authors addressthe unique barriers facing rural communities and proposea selfhelp model as a service deliveryalternative.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
American Psychological Association. (1995). Caring For the Rural Community: An Interdisciplinary Curriculum. Washington, DC: APA Office of Rural Health.
Bachrach, L. L. (1983). Psychiatric services in rural areas: a sociological overview. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, (34)3, 215–226.
Bergland, B. (1988). Rural mental health: report of the national action commission on the mental health of rural Americans. Journal of Rural Community Psychology, 9(2), 29–39.
Bjorklund, R. W. (in press). Exploring diagnostic identity of psychiatric patients through poetry therapy. Journal of Poetry Therapy, 12(3–4).
Bloche, M. G. & Cournos, F. (1990). Mental health policy for the 1990s: tinkering in the interstices. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 15(2), 387–411.
Carling, P. J. (1995). Return to Community: Building Support Systems for People with Psychiatric Disabilities. New York: Guilford Press.
Chalfant, H. P., Heller, P., Roberts, A., Briones, D., Aguirre-Hochbaum, S., & Farr, W. (1990). The clergy as a resource for those encountering psychological distress. Review of Religious Research, 31, 305–315.
Chamberlin, J. (1990). The ex-patients' movement: where we've been and where we're going. The Journal of Mind and Behavior, 11(3_4), 323–336.
Emerick, R. E. (1991). The politics of psychiatric self-help: political factions, interactional support, and group longevity in a social movement. Social Science and Medicine, 32(10), 1121–1128.
Everett, B. (1994). Something is happening: the contemporary consumer and psychiatric survivor movement in historical context. Journal of Mind and Behavior, 15(1_2), 55–70.
Frese, F. J. & Walker-Davis, W. (1997). The consumer-survivor movement, recovery, and consumer professionals. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 28(3), 243–245.
Geller, J. M., Beeson, P., & Rodenhiser, R. (1997, December). Frontier Mental Health Strategies: Integrating, Reaching Out, Building Up, and Connecting: Letter to the Field No. 6. DHHS: Center for Mental Health Services. Copy available: www.du.edu/frontier-mh.html.
Hill, C. E. (1985). Folk beliefs and practices. In L. Jones & R. Parlour, (Eds). Psychiatric Services for Underserved Rural Populations, 27–37. New York: Brunner & Mazel.
Hill, C. E. & Fraser, G. J. (1995). Local knowledge and rural mental health reform. Community Mental Health Journal, 31(6), 553–568.
Hedrick, H. L., Isenberg, D. H., & Martini, C. J. (1992). Self-help groups: empowerment through policy and partnerships. In A. H. Katz et al., (Eds). Self-Help: Concepts and Applications, 3–55. Philadelphia, PA: Charles Press Publishers.
Jacobs, M. K. & Goodman, G. (1989). Psychology and self-help groups: predictions on a partnership. American Psychologist, 44(3), 536–545.
Jones, L. R. & Parlour, R. R. (1985). Designing prevention services. In R. Jones & R. Parlour, (Eds). Psychiatric Services for Underserved Rural Populations, 53–64. New York: Brunner/Mazel Publishers.
Kane, C. F. & Ennis, J. M. (1996). Health care reform and rural mental health: severe mental illness. Community Mental Health Journal, 32(5), 445–462.
Katz, A. H. (1993). Self-help in America: A Social Movement Perspective. New York, NY: Twayne Publishers.
Kelly, M. J. & Lauderdale, M. L. (1996). The internet: opportunities for rural outreach, exchange and resource development. Human Services in the Rural Environment, 19(4), 4–9.
Lieberman, M. (1986). Self-help groups and psychiatry. American Psychiatric Association Annual Review, 5, 744–760.
Mechanic, D. (1999). Mental Health and Social Policy (2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Murray, J. D. & Keller, P. A. (1991). Psychology in rural America: current status and future directions. American Psychologist, 46(3), 220–231.
Pion, G. M., Keller, P., & McCombs, H. (1997). Mental Health Providers in Rural and Isolated Areas. Rockville, MD: DHHS: Center for Mental Health Services, No. SMA-98-3166.
Pippard, J. L. (1989). Training rural staff who work with people who are chronically mentally ill. Human Services in the Rural Environment, 12(4), 25–29.
Scull, A. (1985). Deinstitutionalization and public policy. Social Science and Medicine, 20, 545–552. Cited in M. Bloche & F. Cournos. (1990). Mental health policy for the 1990s: tinkering in the interstices. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 15(2), 387_411.
Silverman, S. H., Blank, M. B., & Taylor, L. C. (1997). On our own: preliminary findings from a consumer-run service model. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 21(2), 151–159.
Sowers, W. M., Garcia, F. W., & Seitz, S. L. (1996). Community-based prevention: an evolving paradigm. Journal of Primary Prevention, 16(3), 225–231.
Sullivan, W. P. (1989). Community support programs in rural areas: developing programs without walls. Human Services in the Rural Environment, 12(4), 19–23.
Sullivan, G., Jackson, C. A., & Spritzer, K. L. (1996). Characteristics and service use of seriously mentally ill persons living in rural areas. Psychiatric Services, 47(1), 57–61.
Task Panel on Rural Mental Health. (1978). Report to the President's Commission on Mental Health. Report to the President, (3), 1155–1190. Washington, DC: U.S. Printing Office.
U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment. (1990). Health Care in Rural America. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, OTA-H-434.
Voss, S. L. (1996). The church as an agent in rural mental health. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 24(2), 114–123.
Wagenfeld, M. O., Murray, J. D., Mohatt, D. F., & DeBruyn, J. C. (1994). Mental Health and Rural America: 1980_1993. DHHS: Office of Rural Health Policy, NIH Pub. 94-3500.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bjorklund, R.W., Pippard, J.L. The Mental Health Consumer Movement: Implications for Rural Practice. Community Ment Health J 35, 347–359 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018714024063
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018714024063