Mental health service accessibility for young people in rural, regional, and remote areas and its implications for social work practice: a scoping review protocol.

Driver, Ross

Young people in rural, regional, and remote communities experience high levels of mental distress. Health services in rural and remote communities are also poorer in quality. Hence, it is critical to understand how social work can help young people in these areas access mental health supports. This scoping review identifies what enables and hinders access to mental health services for young people in rural, regional, and remote areas of Australia and Canada. Twenty-two studies published between 2018 and 2022 were included and analyzed. Findings highlight the need for social workers to reduce peer-stigmatization of mental illness and foster community collaboration.

NEW South Wales; CANADA; AUSTRALIA; HEALTH services accessibility; PROFESSIONAL practice; SOCIAL workers; INTERPROFESSIONAL relations; MEDICAL care; SOCIAL services; MENTAL illness; UNIVERSITIES & colleges; AGE; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; RURAL health services; SYSTEMATIC reviews; THEMATIC analysis; PUBLIC relations; QUALITY assurance; SOCIAL support; DATA analysis software; SOCIAL stigma; TIME; PSYCHOSOCIAL factors

Social Work in Mental Health, 2024, Vol 22, Issue 5, p734

1533-2985

Academic Journal

10.1080/15332985.2024.2368594