Crisis in the American Heartland

BWho will step up to meet the challenge of the next rural crisis?/BBR Rural practice presents important yet challenging issues for psychology, especially given uneven population distribution, high levels of need, limited availability of rural services, and ongoing migration to urban centers. It is critical that mental health professionals and first responders in rural areas become aware of recent research, training and approaches to crisis intervention, traumatology, compassion fatigue, disaster mental health, critical incident stress management, post-traumatic stress and related areas in rural environments. Critical issues facing rural areas include:br liPhysical issues such as land, air, and water resources, cheap food policy, chemicals and pesticides, animal rights, corruption in food marketing and distribution, and land appropriation for energy development. liQuality of life issues such as rural America's declining share of national wealth, problems of hunger, education, and rural poverty among rural populations of farmers and ranchers. liDirect service issues include the need to accommodate a wide variety of mental health difficulties, client privacy and boundaries, and practical challenges. liIndirect service issues include the greater need for diverse professional activities, collaborative work with professionals having different orientations and beliefs, program development and evaluation, and conducting research with few mentors or peer collaborators. liProfessional training and development issues include lack of specialized relevant courses and placements. liPersonal issues include limited opportunities for recreation, culture, and lack of privacy.BRBR Doherty's first volume in this new series ICrisis in the American Heartland/I explores these and many other issues. Social Science: Disasters & Disaster ReliefBRBR For more information please visit Bwww.RMRInstitute.org/B