#IMC: September 14 - 18 2025

Breaking the Silence: Addressing Rural Mental Health Gaps and Learned Helplessness Through Accessible Support Systems

Assigned Session: PS 3.102: Empowering Mountain Youth: Addressing Learned Helplessness Through Multi-Channel Communication Frameworks

Abstract ID: 3.11550 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Ritikaa Gupta (0)
Gholam, Nicholas (1)
Ritikaa Gupta ((0) , 105 Professor's Lake Parkway, L6S 4P8, Toronto, ON, CA)
Gholam, Nicholas (1)

(0) , 105 Professor's Lake Parkway, L6S 4P8, Toronto, ON, CA
(1) Mountain Youth Hub, Not available

(1) Mountain Youth Hub, Not available

Categories: Anthropology, Others, Policy
Keywords: rural mental health, learned helplessness, social buffering, e-mental health, community-based support

Categories: Anthropology, Others, Policy
Keywords: rural mental health, learned helplessness, social buffering, e-mental health, community-based support

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Rural communities often face silent struggles in mental health, marked by stigma, isolation, and limited access to professional care—factors that contribute to learned helplessness among youth. This research explores the intersection of rural mental health services, digital solutions, and the social fabric that influences help-seeking behaviors. Drawing from a regional analysis conducted for Zentrum Ueberleben’s Ilajnafsy project and focusing on regions with digital mental health innovations (e.g., Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq – among many others), the study highlights both existing solutions and critical gaps in rural e-mental health accessibility. It further examines how stigma, gender norms, and community structures shape mental health narratives. Emphasizing local infrastructure and digital platforms as potential ‘first responders’ in rural areas, the research aims to present actionable recommendations for building community-based support systems. This abstract aims to provoke a workshop discussion on the role of social and digital buffering mechanisms to combat learned helplessness and foster rural youth resilience.

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