Rural families struggle to find mental health care for kids

Based on a report by Marnie Werner, vice president of Research for the Center of Rural Policy and Development

Families in rural Minnesota are struggling to find mental health care for their children, and the problem is only getting worse.

The biggest issue? There aren’t enough mental health workers in rural areas.

Fixing this would take years and require big investments—higher pay, better training opportunities, and financial support for new providers.

But kids need help now, and in many rural areas, services are hard to find.

Kids’ Mental Health Is

Getting Worse

Mental health problems among kids have skyrocketed in recent years. The Minnesota Student Survey (2022) showed a huge rise in mental health struggles, especially among girls: 2019: 35% of girls and 18% of boys reported long-term mental health issues. 2022: That jumped to 45% of girls and 20% of boys.

This isn’t just a Minnesota issue. In 2023, several national medical groups declared a National State of Emergency in Children’s Mental Health.

What’s Making It Worse?

Several factors have fueled this crisis: The pandemic made things worse by increasing isolation and stress. Social media has been linked to anxiety and depression, leading some states to rethink kids’ access to it....

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