In this article I will argue that the lack of resources in rural communities contributes to the overall negative well-being and mental health of its members. To demonstrate this argument, I will examine three aspects associated with mental health problems. In the first section I will look at the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Health Canada and The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health to determine the need for services for people with mental health issues. Second, I will address the systemic barriers associated with mental illness and lack of resources by critically analyzing power differentials within society, political actors, and oppressions that people with mental illness face on a daily basis. Finally, I will look at the positive recovery process for people who access services. To ensure the validity of this research, I will review quantitative research derived from Statistics Canada to see the objective numbers that correlate to the growing needs for mental health services. I will also conduct qualitative research by interviewing members of rural communities to see their perceived notions of how the lack of resources in rural communities contributes to overall development