The CDC reports 43.4 million adults suffered from some behavioral health issue in 2015 alone. Overwhelming numbers of Americans will, at some time during their lives, confront a mental health challenge. It may be related to depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, or perhaps a result of circumstances like grief over a loss or a life change.

With all these people in need, just imagine for a moment that there was no psychiatrist or psychologist anywhere around, not to mention a specialist who these millions of people would feel comfortable with entrusting their needs. Hold that image. This is precisely the disturbing picture for many in Rural America.

The numbers tell the story. A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that nearly 2/3  (65%) of non-metropolitan counties don’t have a psychiatrist while almost 1/2 (47%) of non-metropolitan counties are without a psychologist. These numbers become more frightening when one understands the critical link between inadequate mental health care and other crises such as drug abuse and suicide.

For Many, Viable Options Don’t Exist

Many clinical psychologists practicing in rural communities have come to the depressing conclusion that there just aren’t enough options; in some areas, no options at all.  Even when those limited options exist, people have to travel to reach them.  Those mental health workers who exist are almost exclusively generalists, not the specialists that so many people need.  The bottom line is that most people are just left on their own.

Another devastating problem is that mental health care for most people in rural communities is considered to be a last resort. The whole notion of preventative mental health care is unheard of.  In practical terms, this means that a problem is only treated when it becomes a full-blown crisis.

Clinicians Are Overwhelmed

Until this point, we have focused on the client.  However, there is another dark side to the problem – the heroic therapists are also suffering.  Many rural clinicians claim that their frustrations are endless.  The resources such as shelters, hospitals and support groups that exist in metropolitan areas are generally nowhere to be found in Rural America.

The result is that the professionals need to shoulder the entire burden of mental health care themselves – a Herculean feat that most of them aren’t qualified to do.  Even supplemental facilities that do exist often face the continuous threat of being closed or scaled down due to the ugly fiscal realities of many small towns.

The Vicious Cycle Keeps Getting More Vicious

Don’t think that failing to solve the particular mental health problem is the end of the story. Often, these problems spiral into worse problems like overdoses and depressions that take a substantial toll on quality of life and finances as the situation becomes more complicated from not being addressed at an earlier stage.

Online Mental Health Therapy to the Rescue!

Until recently, there didn’t seem to be much hope of ever arresting this devastating problem, not to mention turning it around. But the advent and growth of online mental health therapy can potentially change all that. Through the marvels of technology, a venue has been created that can provide top-quality mental health care from literally anywhere through a laptop and webcam.

The dearth of mental health resources in rural communities is no longer an obstacle to providing top-quality care for those who need it most. Aside from the benefits of keeping costs to a minimum and the flexibility, specialists from anywhere in the country (or world) can be just a click away. As the popularity of online mental health therapy continues to grow, the mental health crisis devastating rural communities may finally be on its way to being solved.

Is your school looking to explore the benefits of teletherapy? Schedule your free demo today.

We live in a world that sees digital innovations creeping into every area of both our professional and personal lives. And as unpredictable as many of these changes may be in general, in certain areas such as education and therapy (such as the advent of teletherapy), the future is quite uncertain.

While an exhaustive review is beyond the scope of this blog, we will focus on one particular area; how school administrators can adequately inspire and motivate teachers and teletherapy clinicians in today’s rapidly changing school environment.

1. Respect your teachers and teletherapy clinicians

It should come as no surprise that respecting your staff is the very top of the list. However what may come as a surprise is that while you may think you are giving them enough respect, in reality, you may be not.

Just as teachers are well aware of what language will either nurture or derail a relationship with a student, principals need to know much the same regarding how to connect with their teachers. The rules, while quite simple, are not always easy to implement- respectful and positive language, showing genuine concern about their observations, interests, and suggestions. Don’t just show respect, but honestly feel it!

2. You want your space, give them theirs

You must understand is that your teachers are leaders. How else could they be expected to run of a class of 20-30 children on a daily basis without regular disruptions? As such give them the room to develop their lesson plans within the parameters of curricula set by the district.

According to research conducted by Education Week, teachers who are permitted to have control over their work attain higher performance levels which directly raises their students as a result.

3. Provide them the tools they need to succeed

Assuming that you want your teachers and therapists such as teletherapy clinicians to be successful with the various types of students with whom they are charged, you will need to maintain realistically sized classes and the necessary supplies.

Whether the particular needs are visual, auditory, or tactile, any way you look at it, those materials, supplies, games, and even evaluation tools, will be needed. Granted that there will be districts that can’t afford to supply their teachers and therapists. But at least you can advocate for them to find alternative solutions, or at the very least be genuinely empathetic to their plight!

4. Nurture the inherent greatness of your teachers and therapists

Teachers and therapists by their very nature are lifelong learners with an abundant desire to grow and become more. This is why professional development is essential not only for its practical benefits for the students but to the touch and enliven the very souls of your teachers and therapists.

While it may stretch your budget, the rewards you will reap from investing in seminars or webinars that are focused on cutting-edge education technologies, pedagogical theories, or developments in the various therapeutic fields are immeasurable.

Epilogue

While these suggestions are based upon research and have proven successful; this list is by no means exhaustive. For the genuinely interested administrator, the ideas above will be a catalyst to explore and brainstorm other innovations that will carry their students to new levels of success by way of empowering their most valuable resource- the dedicated teachers and therapists, such as teletherapy clinicians.

Is your school looking to explore the benefits of teletherapy? Schedule your free demo today.