Rachel Herron

Dr. Rachel Herron is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at Brandon University, holding a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Rural and Remote Mental Health. She founded the Centre for Critical Studies of Rural Mental Health, focusing on collaborative research addressing rural mental health, aging, and care systems. Her work emphasizes community-based methodologies to improve care environments and reduce violence in aging care settings. Key projects include the Safe Places for Aging and Care initiative (a multi-university study) and the Sharing Dance program promoting social inclusion for dementia patients. She has co-led studies on rural masculinities, Indigenous men’s mental health, and pandemic mental health impacts in rural Manitoba.

Research interests include rural mental health equity, dementia care innovation, aging-in-place strategies, and the intersection of geography with healthcare systems. Dr. Herron’s interdisciplinary approach integrates qualitative methods such as interviews, focus groups, and document analysis to inform policy and practice.

Her publications span journals like Social Science & Medicine, Dementia, and The Gerontologist, with a focus on caregiving dynamics, environmental influences on care interactions, and innovative interventions like arts-based therapy. Collaborations include Canada’s National Ballet School and multiple universities across Canada.

Current initiatives involve developing anti-violence frameworks for long-term care and exploring digital delivery of social programs to rural areas. She oversees a diverse research team and has coordinated national studies involving hundreds of participants, aiming to bridge academic research with community needs.