In many rural areas, maintaining mental health can sometimes come down to finding a ride.
As Oklahoma Watch reports, Transportation is often a barrier for rural dwellers seeking mental health or substance abuse treatment.
Health-care providers have been exploring new solutions, such as using iPads to consult with clients who can’t make it to the clinic. But many states with large rural populations, like Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, continue to slash budgets for mental health care. And that makes finding solutions difficult.
Mike Brose, the chief executive officer of Mental Health Association Oklahoma, says every corner of Oklahoma is theoretically covered by a community mental health center. “But” he adds, “that community mental health center may be 30, 40 or 50 miles away.”
