John chats with Kari Oyen, assistant professor of School psychology at the University of South Dakota and president of the South Dakota Association of School Psychologists about mental health issues in rural America and the role of school psychologists.  According to Oyen, because of the lack of resources in many rural areas, there’s a greater need for a systemized approach for dealing with pressing mental health issues in rural settings. In South Dakota, there is enormous problem with suicidal behavior, and there’s an increasing emphasis on prevention services, based on risk factors, such as single-parent homes, poverty and poor attendance. And there’s also a focus on what works in these situations, such as peer support and academic success.