Conceptualising the mental health of rural women: a social work and health promotion perspective

The mental health and well-being of rural women and how to promote it is not well understood. This paper reviews contrasting discourses in relation to rural women, highlighting the way in which gender roles may be reinforced and women's health and well-being compromised. The structural analysis, practice frameworks and skills provided by the disciplines of social work and health promotion can assist in the development of a broader conceptualisation of rural women's mental health and suggest a way forward in promoting their mental health and well-being