The people of rural America face many challenges that are inherent in the volatility of farming, ranching, agriculture, mining, fishing, and forestry – industries that are the foundation of the rural economy impacting 46 million rural residents. Add to that geographic isolation, and it’s easy to see how stress and anxiety become a normal part of life in rural communities. For all of these reasons, Rural Minds – the only national 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on confronting rural mental health challenges and the stigma that surrounds mental illness – is dedicated to rural mental health awareness every month and every day of the year.

From our organization’s beginnings, the focus of Rural Minds has been on advocating for rural mental health equity, promoting mental wellness, and providing information and resources to confront rural mental health challenges and the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

The following are some of the programs Rural Minds has developed in partnership with other organizations to help people who live in rural communities overcome the mental health challenges they face:

Rural Minds confronts the impact of governmental policy on rural mental health

As we connect with rural residents across the U.S., it has become clear the uncertainty that has burst onto the political scene in recent months has presented new challenges, making life even more stressful for many in rural communities.

We believe one key way in which we can help lessen this stress is by providing informational resources about some of the proposed legislation and steps that can be taken to make rural voices heard. To that end, we have recently expanded our website to include a webpage on rural policy and legislation and added a public policy expert to the Rural Minds team.

This additional policy focus has so far addressed topics of particular concern for rural communities, including:

  • Medicaid/Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax relief – With considerable attention being paid to budget cuts in Washington, this is a huge concern for rural Americans. Medicaid and the ACA marketplace play a disproportionately important role in rural communities’ financially fragile healthcare systems; in rural America, incomes are lower, and fewer people have employer-sponsored insurance than in other parts of the country. Rural communities cannot afford to lose any Medicaid coverage (in fact, it should be expanded), nor the enhanced premium tax credits in the ACA marketplace which could expire at the end of the year.
  • Tariffs – While seemingly disconnected from mental health, the uncertainty surrounding tariffs creates instability  for rural businesses, contributing to significant additional stress on those who live in rural America. From both an importing perspective – the source of critical elements for the agricultural sector, for example, and the significant export markets for both farming and ranching – the current financial implications and uncertainty weighs heavily on rural residents.
  • Threats to 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline funding – Recent proposals have raised concerns about potential cuts to this essential and effective mental health support service. According to the most recent data, more than 14.5 million people have called, texted, or sent chats to the 988 Lifeline and been transferred to a crisis contact center in the less than three years the program has been operating. The 988 program is critically important to rural residents in the U.S. for several key reasons, including the severe shortages of mental health professionals and treatment facilities, and the distances that often must be traveled to reach a psychiatrist or counselor. The 988 hotline is free and confidential providing immediate, 24/7 access to crisis support via phone, chat, or text – bridging that service gap.

Information is helpful toward understanding, but equally important is encouraging action – such as contacting elected representatives – to ensure these issues are not allowed to pass without the voice of rural America being heard. The greatest impact rural voters can have on maintaining rural funding and services is by connecting with their elected members of Congress and demanding accountability.

By recognizing barriers to mental health equity, partnering with individuals and organizations across the country, and helping to empower people in rural communities to be part of the solution, we at Rural Minds aim to raise the voice of mental health in rural America and make an impact.

Find more resources on rural mental health

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