- Jamaica Ramos
- Spring 2026
Abstract
In rural areas where individuals face barriers such as a lack of providers, remote location, and limited access to care, mental health disparities continue to be a major concern. By making mental health services more accessible, telehealth has become an approach to address these issues. The goal of this study is to assess whether telehealth can effectively increase rural residents’ access to mental health care, examine how it affects patient outcomes and satisfaction, and identify existing barriers. A literature review was conducted using databases including PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar, with an emphasis on peer-reviewed research published in the previous five years. “Telehealth,” “mental health,” “rural,” and “access to care” were among the keywords. Results show that telemedicine enhances access by lowering travel barriers and expanding service availability. Research has shown that telehealth improves clinical outcomes (70% symptom reduction), treatment adherence (92%), and patient satisfaction (Sairam et al., 2023). Additionally, telehealth showed enhanced accessibility, with 90% of patients reporting easier access to care, and cost-effectiveness, cutting expenditures by roughly 37.5% (Sairam et al., 2023). But barriers such as limited broadband availability, financial difficulties, and privacy concerns persist. These results highlight the need for improved infrastructure, government support, and consistent implementation to ensure equitable, long-lasting access while encouraging the integration of telehealth into rural mental health care.
