This chapter presents reasons for why many individuals prefer receiving mental health care in a primary care setting. In fact, more persons with a mental health problem or illness are treated by a primary care provider than by a specialty mental health care provider. The chapter also presents the background for integration, including definitions, models, barriers, and evidence from the general integration literature. It describes the history of integration in rural areas and best practices of integrating care in rural areas. The chapter presents practical strategies for integrating care in rural areas. It provides case studies of integrated care in rural communities. The chapter reviews the experience and lessons learned by four rural primary care providers who have successfully integrated care. A number of national trends and policy initiatives are likely to influence access to rural mental health care in the years ahead.
