Some teenage stressors are nearly universal. But others can be specific to the community a child lives in. Some urban youth may be more likely to experience challenges such as gun violence in their neighborhoods, for instance. Children and teenagers living in rural communities also have their own unique challenges to work through.
[Related: How to help children and teens manage their stress]
Rural youth have a greater incidence of suicide than those in urban areas (Graves, J. M., et al., JAMA Network Open, Vol. 3, No. 10, 2020opens in new window). They also have higher rates of anxiety, depression, and behavior problems (Figas, K., et al., Findings Brief, Rural & Minority Health Research Center, November 2022opens in new window). At the same time, kids in rural areas have less access to behavioral health providers. More than 60% of areas with a shortage of mental health professionals are rural or partially rural (Child Mental Health: Rural Policy Brief, CDC, 2024opens in new window).
[Related: U.S. teens need far more support]
Life in rural communities also presents hurdles that make it hard for teens to access social support, especially in areas with fewer socioeconomic resources, said Casey Jo Cottrill, PsyD, a clinical psychologist who serves adolescents in a school-based clinic in the rural Appalachian community of Barbour County, West Virginia. In her community, many young people experience higher rates of poverty and exposure to substance misuse. Many have parents who work long hours or multiple jobs. Teens are often expected to step up to care for younger siblings or older family members, making their way through the week with minimal supervision from supportive adults, Cottrill said.
Economic difficulties and transportation challenges are also common in rural areas. Some of Cottrill’s students commute 90 minutes by bus to school each way, then drive an hour to after-school jobs. Others are expected to work on the farm or in the family-owned business outside of school hours. “It’s hard enough for them to make time for homework, let alone hanging out with friends,” she said.
Too often, any free time spent with friends happens without adults around, often with alcohol involved. To address that risk, Cottrill is part of a community coalition called Bright Futures that aims to reduce substance use in youth—in part by providing healthy opportunities for social connection. The program provides grants for school staff and community members to start clubs on topics ranging from archery to baton twirling. Students receive vouchers that allow them to pay for their uniform or supplies needed to participate. One day a week, the school schedule is adjusted to make time for clubs so that the activities do not interfere with after-school jobs or transportation schedules. The program allows students to connect with one another and with adult mentors at school and in their communities.
Providing such opportunities for connection is an important way to help teens get the support they need. But kids also need to learn the communication and social skills that allow supportive friendships to grow, Cottrill said. “I see a lot of students expressing loneliness, worthlessness, low self-confidence. It’s often a cyclical process: ‘I feel lonely and worthless; therefore, I have a hard time reaching out to other people.’ That, in turn, creates more loneliness and social isolation,” she said. “As practitioners, we can work with students to help them build better communication skills and navigate stressful peer situations.”
