At 3 a.m., my son Tyler (not his real name) pounds on my bedroom door asking for a kratom drink (more about that later), coffee, and his daily spending money. I stay in bed. At 3:15, 3:45, 4, and 5:30 a.m., he pounds again. Three hours of sleep for me. Probably none for him. Not good for either of our mental illnesses. I’m the father and guardian of my 33-year-old son Tyler who lives with a serious mental illness (SMI) – schizoaffective disorder….

In this interview with Families for Depression Awareness, Rural Minds Executive Director Chuck Strand provided resources and information about overcoming barriers to mental health treatment for family caregivers in rural America who support a loved one with a mood disorder.