An Interpretive Description of Nurses’ Perspectives on Rural Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Care

Mental health and substance use (MHSU) disorders are the primary contributors to disability among children and youth, often with an early age of onset. Rural communities face added challenges in accessing care. Nurses may be a key professional support for rural children and youth needing MHSU care, but there is a gap in the literature about nurses’ roles in this practice area. This interpretive descriptive study explored the insights of rural nurses regarding MHSU care for children and youth in community practice settings in British Columbia, Canada. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven rural nurses who were either MHSU specialists or generalists with MHSU as part of their practice. Reflexive thematic analysis and interpretive description were used to analyse the data. Three key themes were constructed: (1) children and youth’s mental health was tethered to the rural and remote context; (2) MHSU care was more than just MHSU treatment; and (3) the essential components of rural child and youth MHSU nursing practice. Early intervention and rural-centric approaches may support rural children and youth. By supporting rural nurses, MHSU care for children and youth can be enhanced.