Mental health
Depression, anxiety, substance use and suicide are higher in many rural compared to urban communities. Veterans, farmers, and agricultural workers have each been identified as having higher than average risk of mental illness. These patterns may arise from differences in occupation, social isolation, and socioeconomic stressors, and is exacerbated by workforce shortages and inadequate access to mental and behavioral health services.
Current projects
Georgia Farmworkers Mental Well-being
MUSM received funding to train interprofessional student teams to meet the mental and behavioral health needs of Georgia farmworkers through the use of telehealth technology. With the help of community partners, they are currently interviewing farmworkers to gain a better understanding of their priorities and needs. This work will inform the adaptation and implementation of a future program, service, or intervention to address farmworkers’ mental and behavioral health needs.
Core research faculty:
Mental health research faculty
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Kim Roth, PhDSavannah
Dr. Roth's research focuses on mental and behavioral disorders in Latinx and immigrant populations, both through epidemiologic investigations and improving service delivery. She is also interested in suicide prevention, improving the health of rural populations, and increasing access to autism services.
Read faculty bio -
