Rural Practice, Challenges of

Val Farmer

The United States defines “rural” communities as those of 2,500 people or fewer. A more natural definition is tied to population density: People who live in geographically isolated, low-population areas where occupations are tied to natural resources have more in common with each other than they do with people in cities and towns of any size. The small size of their communities is key to understanding the vibrancy and tenacity of rural people as well as the peculiar dynamics of relationships and types of problems they experience. Related to rural and farm life are unique pressures and Stressors such as economic issues associated with the weather, lack of control over prices, cost of inputs, drought, disease, land costs and rentals, globalization, rural values, and social dynamics. The mental health community needs to be prepared to care for these people and help them with transitions and other Stressors so that they ...

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