Hansen, who lived in rural Maine before coming to Idaho, said that it is common to discuss mental health in urban areas but in rural communities, people tend not to be as open about it, considering mental health care a “luxury item.”
He said that medical and mental health research is usually conducted in urban areas, which creates a challenge because the findings don’t always apply to rural communities.
“I was in a training about substance abuse and someone asked a question about opiate use and how it should be approached. The provider leading the session mentioned needle exchange programs. I was like, ‘No, no, no, that’s for an urban area. Out here it’s pills that affect us, we need a different strategy,’” he said.
In 2023, roughly 18% of Idaho adults reported misusing prescription drugs in the last 12 months. And in 2022, there were 381 total deaths due to drug overdose, 270 of which were opioid related.
“We need psychologists who are ready to start thinking outside of the box, outside of the traditional urban environment,” Hansen said. “We need to start taking a more complex look at rural life versus urban life.”
The Psy.D. program will help close the gap. Students will be able to work with the Idaho Office of Underserved and Rural Medical Research to complete research projects related to mental health in rural Idaho communities, and they will have the opportunity to practice psychology in rural communities throughout their education.
A ‘win for Idaho’
Farrer stated that the program’s impact will be felt almost immediately, as students will swiftly move into North Idaho communities to start their training.
“If I’m the sole provider at a private practice in Moscow, I can only see so many patients, but if I have a trainee, then I can increase the number of patients that I’m seeing, which is good for the consumer because now there’s more providers,” he said.
As students connect with clinics, hospitals and individual providers to train under the supervision of a licensed psychologist, they will become immersed in Idaho’s communities, learning the ins and outs of the local mentality and care system.
“Establishing the Psy.D. is such a win for Idaho,” Farrer said. “We don’t have enough mental health care providers in the state. This degree will be a pipeline for more professionals to be trained in Idaho, for Idaho.”
Upon graduation, students can sit for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology. After passing the exam, they will be licensed clinical psychologists.
The Psy.D. will be a collaborative effort between the School of Health and Medical Professions, the Psychology and Communication Department and the Counseling and Mental Health Center. The degree will take five years to complete and will begin Fall 2026.
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