The Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Hospital Association, and the Missouri Department of Mental Health joined forces in 2020 to investigate the mental health crisis in rural Missouri.
According to the report each of the state's 99 counties classified as rural did not have enough mental health professionals or adequate services
The suicide among rural men ages 35-44 tripled between 2003 and 2017, and health officials said the situation has not improved since then.
“Every rural county is a shortage area for behavioral health services. That was true in the year we produced the report and it’s true today. This challenge is getting bigger it’s partially the pandemic, but in rural parts of the state some of the problems that we might see are amplified,” said Dave Dillon, Spokesperson for Missouri Hospital Association.
Economic changes and climate conditions impact production have been major causes of stress among farmers. But Dillon said stigmas also play a role in farmers seeking help.
"The most important thing to do is to reduce the stigma for individuals that live in rural areas because there's a little less amenity in rural parts of the state and rural parts of our nation,” said Dillon.
Beyond the stigma there is another pressing issue, which is the access to mental health facilities and services. But state officials hope an increase in broadband access could help bridge the gap.
Farmer Jason Medows said he prefers online counseling due to stigmas and hearsay that often come with getting help for mental health conditions. “I myself when I am in counseling, I actually use a site that is all online counseling, and it really helps. First, the amenity of it is nice. I’m able to go sit either my truck or my office at home, nobody has to know that I’m doing it,” said Medows.
According to research there are 1 million Missourians don’t have access to high-speed internet and unfortunately, they rely on access to hospital emergency rooms for behavioral care.
“We’re boarding patients because we can’t find a bed to get them to for the kind of psychiatric care they need in the longer term and that isn’t good for the patient and it isn’t good for everyone else who needs access to these emergency services,” said Dillon.
“One of the easiest things I think we can do is expand broadband access and allow for more telemedicine. I serve on my local hospital board where it’s the second smallest critical hospital in the state. Our number one need is behavioral health we need access to mental health services,” said Hawkins.