Degree Name

MS (Master of Science)

Program

Psychology

Date of Award

8-2011

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Jodi Polaha

Committee Members

Stacey L. Williams, Kimberly Hale

Abstract

Unique barriers prevent parents in rural areas from seeking mental health services for their children. The implementation of innovative models of service delivery may reduce these barriers' impact on rural parents' treatment seeking.

The purpose of this study was to determine: 1) parents' willingness to use innovative service delivery models; 2) barriers that parents perceive to seeking treatment in each of the 4 service delivery models, and; 3) the relationship between perceived barriers and willingness to seek help in the context of 4 service delivery models.

Surveys were distributed to parents of children attending school in several counties in rural Appalachia.

Results showed that parents perceived different barriers for different service models and that perceived barriers affected willingness differently depending on the model asked about.

These results suggest that the use of innovative models (e.g., telehealth) may be acceptable in rural areas as alternatives to traditional mental health services.

Document Type

Thesis - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

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