Serving the Mental Health Needs of Rural Teens Means Tackling Other Obstacles as Well - The Daily Yonder
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
A community development and services group designed and implemented a mental healthcare program for teenagers amidst the mental health crisis fueled by the Covid-19 pandemic.
By Liz Carey
“When you’re in a county of less than 7,000 individuals, and you’re hearing about numerous teen suicides, there’s an issue,” said April Anzaldua, director of community services and development with the Community Action Corporation of South Texas.
Anzaldua said her organization first became alarmed when, about two months ago, they heard about yet another suicide in South Texas.
“The thing is the graduating classes are less than a hundred in these communities,” she said. “There’s one high school. So, it really hits the entire adolescent population when they lose a friend and peer, because truly everyone knows everyone there.”
It’s an issue that is facing rural communities across the country.