- Phone:
- (812) 855-7083
- Email:
- sbfarmer@iu.edu
- Campus:
- IU Bloomington
Health: Closing the gap: Increasing mental health services in Martin County, IN
Project abstract
The goal for this project was to develop models for mental health service delivery in Martin County (MC), Indiana, based on the specific strengths and infrastructure within the community. At the current juncture, these models have been presented to the community. The project currently supports the community’s implementation of these strategies. This project utilized a mixed-methods research approach to measure community attitudes towards proposed treatment methods via key informant interviews, survey data, and focus groups.
Due to the significant lack of mental health service providers in MC, need for these services, and barriers to receiving them, this project incorporated the strengths, barriers, and community-specific solutions to increasing services. First, we sought to understand the ways MC currently overcomes the discrepancy between mental health demands and providers. Second, we sought to understand the challenges MC faces in delivering mental health services. To do this, we interviewed organization leaders and community members to understand the gaps in services. A literature review explored and sought solutions to these community-identified challenges. As a result of this analysis, we are currently supporting the community and facilitating the implementation of these proposals in MC that incorporate the strengths in the community and address the challenges they have identified. The current goal is to create a model for rural mental health service provision that can be replicated in other rural communities with similar strengths as well as similar challenges.
Campus partners
- School of Social Work
- School of Public Health
Community partners
- MC Community Corrections
- MC Community Foundation
- Hoosier Uplands (Shoals)
- Good Samaritan Hospital (Vincennes)
- MC churches (4)
- MC Community Learning Center
- Middle Way House
- Memorial Hospital (Jasper)
Counties involved
Martin