Journal of Rural Mental Health, Vol 50(1), Jan 2026, 3-11; doi:10.1037/rmh0000325
Rural communities face persistent mental health disparities, driven by inadequate health care infrastructure, poverty, geographic isolation, and cultural stigma. Telemental health (TMH) presents a promising solution by expanding remote access to psychiatric care. This article reviews evidence on TMH implementation in rural areas and evaluates its potential in reducing rural–urban mental health disparities. Research suggests that TMH can increase service utilization with clinical outcomes comparable to face-to-face care, though several barriers persist. Future research should examine long-term TMH effectiveness in rural settings, as leveraging telehealth may help improve mental health care in underserved, rural communities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)