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

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.