Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 May;38(5):e14534.
doi: 10.1111/dme.14534. Epub 2021 Feb 24.

Moving beyond 'don't ask, don't tell': Mental health needs of adults with type 1 diabetes in rural and remote regions of British Columbia

Shadan Ashrafi  1 , Deanne Taylor  2   3 , Tricia S Tang  4
Affiliations

Moving beyond 'don't ask, don't tell': Mental health needs of adults with type 1 diabetes in rural and remote regions of British Columbia

Shadan Ashrafi et al. Diabet Med. 2021 May.

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the mental health needs of adults with type 1 diabetes living in rural and remote regions of Interior, British Columbia (BC) and identify factors associated with accessing support. We also explored perspectives around using peer support and digital health strategies for delivering mental health support.

Methods: This study recruited 38 adults with type 1 diabetes to complete a self-report survey and participate in focus groups. We conducted six 90-min focus groups that addressed the following: current and past mental health needs, social media use for type 1 diabetes support, peer supporter recruitment and training, and support delivery features for virtual care platforms. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed, quality checked, coded and analysed to develop themes and subthemes.

Results: Four core themes emerged: (1) emotional challenges linked to type 1 diabetes management, (2) unique type 1 diabetes-related concerns in rural and remote communities, (3) previous support experiences and future support needs and (4) diabetes-related mental health support interventions involving peer support and digital health strategies. Existing support services are inadequate in meeting the needs of type 1 diabetes adults in Interior BC. Some have turned towards social media as a way to connect with the type 1 diabetes community for support.

Conclusions: Though type 1 diabetes adults living in rural and remote settings experience distress associated with the ongoing burdens, frustrations and fears of managing a complex chronic condition, many have not been offered support and do not know how to seek services in the present/future. Peer support and digital health strategies are two potential solutions to address this care gap.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus; mental health; social support; telemedicine; type 1.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. Public Health Agency of Canada. Fast Facts About Diabetes: Data Compiled From The 2011 Survey On Living With Chronic Diseases in Canada. Ottawa, Canada: Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
    1. Vallis M, Burns KK, Hollahan D, Ross S, Hahn J. Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs Second Study (DAWN2): understanding diabetes-related psychosocial outcomes for Canadians with diabetes. Can J Diabetes. 2016;40(3):234-241.
    1. Gonzalez JS, Fisher L, Polonsky WH. Depression in diabetes: Have we been missing something important? Diabetes Care. 2011;34(1):236-239.
    1. Sturt J, Dennick K, Due-Christensen M, McCarthy K. The detection and management of diabetes distress in people with type 1 diabetes. Curr DiabRep. 2015;15(11):101.
    1. Nichols J, Vallis M, Boutette S, Gall Casey C, Yu CH. A Canadian cross-sectional survey on psychosocial supports for adults living with type 1 or 2 diabetes: health-care providers’ awareness, capacity and motivation. Can J Diabetes. 2018;42(4):389-94.e2.

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources