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    Successful Model
     for Rural and Underserved Communities

    Mental/Behavioral Health Services

    Center for Rural Mental Health Studies
    at the University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth

    Project:Mental and Behavioral Health/Telemedicine/Primary Care Integration  

    Target Population: Bigfork, Cook, Ely, Littlefork, Mora, Paynesville

    Description: The Center for Rural Mental Health Studies (CRMHS) at the University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth is integrating mental health into primary care settings for underserved rural populations. CRMHS partners with the Family Medicine clinics in Bigfork, Cook, Ely, Littlefork, Mora and Paynesville, Minnesota communities to provide telemental health consultative services.

    The telemental health service uses a modified shared care model of service delivery. Psychologists from the University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth work with a patient’s physician via virtual presence communication to provide behavioral health services within the primary care clinic. The CRMHS provides timely, local mental health services that patients can access without the stigma associated with entering a mental health clinic or the costs involved with travel to distant sites for consultation. The patient is seen in their community medical clinic or hospital via a televideo arrangement, using PolyCom equipment, after referral from their primary care physician or other health care provider. Following the session(s) with the patient, CRMHS providers call the referring community provider, summarize their clinical impressions and offer treatment or further referral recommendations. This is followed with a written communiqué for the patient’s medical file.

    Patient satisfaction with the arrangement is very high.

    Contact: James G. Boulger, Ph.D.
    University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth
    1035 University Drive
    Duluth, MN 55812
    (218) 726-7144
    Email: jboulger@d.umn.edu
    Web site: http://www.med.umn.edu/duluth/about/CRMHS/home.html
    A printable version of this model (PDF: 21KB/1pg)

    Sowing the Seeds of Hope

    Project: Responding to the mental health needs of farm families in seven predominantly rural states.

    Target Population: Farm families 

    Geographic Area: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin  

    Description: Sowing the Seeds of Hope is responding to the mental health needs of farm families. This is a collaborative effort of project leaders in seven predominantly rural states: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

    Sowing the Seeds of Hope addresses the underserved rural agricultural population without regard to age, income, availability of insurance, racial/ethnic group or location. The program provides services to all members of the agricultural community. Often, these individuals and families experience an accumulation of stresses that result in the breakdown of coping mechanisms. Commonly associated behavioral health problems include interpersonal distress, depression, anxiety, substance misuse and loss of hope.

    The program is establishing an integrated regional network of behavioral health care supports for the rural agricultural population. The coordinating partner for Minnesota Sowing Seeds of Hope services is Crisis Connection in Richfield. Minnesota services include:

    • A 24/7 crisis hotline (866) 379-6363 (in Minnesota) receives approximately 2,600 calls annually
    • Advocacy for rural mental health needs through statewide coalition
    • Educational presentations and provider trainings that focus on the area of agricultural behavioral health issues.

    Contact : David J. Therkelsen
    Crisis Connection
    P.O. Box 23090
    Richfield, MN 55423
    (612) 852-2201
    Email: davidtherkelsen@crisis.org
    Web site: http://www.crisis.org/
    A printable version of this model (PDF: 28KB/1pg)