Telemental health assessment and implications for intimate partner violence in rural settings

Violence and abuse in rural America are exacerbated by limited access to support services for victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) due to family connections with people in positions of authority, geographic isolation, transportation barriers, stigma of abuse, lack of available shelters and affordable housing, poverty as a barrier to care, and other challenges. Victims of abuse who live in small communities may be well-acquainted with local health care providers and often voter-elected law enforcement officers. Individuals may fear being seen walking into a mental health clinic, with subsequent (and reality-based) fear that deter them from seeking help. Thus, advances in technology are becoming a much-needed option. Although telehealth has been used for some time in rural health settings, only in more recent years has there been an increase toward quality trauma-informed care. With increasing focus on the impact of social determinants of health, agencies continue to shift to telehealth to provide virtual support. Specifically, telehealth visits can potentially extend the reach of the limited number of primary care and mental health providers to those who are significantly in need of services.