Collaborative Protocol in Rural Mental Health: What is the best way for rural nurses to help the elderly population reduce depression? GoalThe goal of rural mental health (RTH) is to increase access to people in rural areas of the States using teleconferencing, video conferencing, email, group video conferencing and telephone to help the geriatric patient improve their depression. Telemental health and/or telemedicine will also improve communication and collaboration with a team of healthcare providers such as rural clinic nurses and primary care physicians, while giving the rural geriatric population access to an essential health service. Background and Problem Statement The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report (2013) found that the World Health Organization describes inequalities and disparities within a community as social determinants. These social determinants include age, gender, place of birth, where one lives, works, plays, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and has a system health. McKibbin and Deacon (2011) revealed that an estimated 20% of older adults suffer from a mental health disorder. Patients with chronic illness such as coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, geriatric depression, chronic pain problems, cancer and diabetes account for billions of dollars spent on medical care in the United States. United. As the population ages, costs will increase, the shortage of doctors and nurses will continue to decrease, and the magnitude of this problem will increase, hence the need for new ideas and innovative plans to care for the population geriatrics, including those in rural areas. A Potential Solution to Geriatric Depression......middle of article......oto, SS, Wexler, BE, & Alexopoulos, GS (2012). Neuroplasticity-based computerized cognitive remediation for geriatric depression. Geriatric Psychiatry, 27, 1239-1247. doi:10.1002/gps.3776Nieves, JE, Briscoe, GM, Edwards, LM, & Flores-Carrea, A. (2011). A review of the literature on the use of videophones in mental health. Psychiatric Times, 28(5), 24-33. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/876042924?accountid=10559 Norbert, B., Bennett, L., Carnahan, L., Decker, V. B., Grady, B., & Holden, D. (2011). Evidence-based practice for telemental health. Telemedicine and eHealth, 17(2), 131. doi:10.1089/tmj.2010.0158Ramos-Rios, R., Mateos, R., Lojo, D., Conn, D. and Patterson, T. (2012) . Telepsychogeriatrics: A new horizon in the management of mental health problems in the elderly. (11, ed.) International Psychogeriatrics, 24. doi:10.1017/S1041610212000981