County-level maps show in local detail the lack of behavioral health providers in many rural areas

More than 80 percent (1,069 of 1,331) of "non-core" rural counties—ones without a city of 10,000 or more people—lack psychiatrists, says a study by the Rural Health Research Center and the Rural Health Research & Policy Centers. Non-core counties average 3.4 psychiatrists for every 100,000 people, compared to 17.5 psychiatrists per 100,000 in metropolitan areas. The U.S. average for all counties is 15.6 per 100,000. (Map: Number of psychiatrists per 100,000 in rural counties)

The study found that 91 percent of non-core counties are without psychiatric nurse practitioners (0.9 per every 100,000), 61 percent don't have a psychologist (9.1 per 100,000), 35 percent lack social workers (29.9 per 100,000) and 24 percent are without counselors (67.1 per 100,000). (Map: Psychiatric nurse practitioners per 100,000 in rural counties; click on maps for larger versions)

The study used data from the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System and the National Provider Identifier from October 2015.