Rural Minds and the National Grange Form a Partnership to Address the Mental Health Emergency in Rural America

In our quest to help end the silence, stigma, and suffering that surround mental illness, Rural Minds is partnering with the National Grange to address the current mental health emergency in rural America. Compared to people who live in urban areas, residents of rural communities have higher rates of depression and suicide, but are less likely to access mental healthcare services. Studies have also indicated that suicide rates among people who live in rural counties are 25% higher than people who live in major metropolitan areas.

Our aim in collaborating with the Grange is to develop a grassroots, person-to-person approach to providing people who live in rural communities with mental health and suicide prevention information by working with local Granges, civic groups, and community leaders across the country.

What Is the National Grange?

Founded in 1867, the Grange is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that advocates for rural America and agriculture. With about 150,000 members in 1,700 local chapters throughout the U.S., the Grange has a strong history in grassroots activism and community service. The organization’s members give thousands of volunteer hours and raise millions of dollars for important causes to improve the lives of people in rural communities.

Not only is the Grange a service organization, but also an advocacy group. During local Grange meetings, important issues that impact people living in rural communities are discussed, such as rural broadband access and rural healthcare. Policy recommendations are adopted at the local level, passed by the State Granges, and moved to the National Grange in Washington, DC, to advocate for those policies with Congress and other federal agencies.

Rural Minds and the Grange Collaborate

Here are some of the initiatives that have already resulted from this collaborative partnership:

• Rural Minds Founder Jeff Winton presented to the Grange’s youth representatives who gathered from across the country at the Washington, DC, Experience on March 14, 2022. In his presentation, Jeff raised awareness about mental health issues and the need to combat the stigma of mental illness, depression, and suicide in rural America.

• The National Grange was granted honorary membership in the Rural Minds Partnership Council, which brings together leaders of companies and organizations from both the biopharmaceutical and agricultural industries to partner with Rural Minds in supporting educational initiatives that address the mental challenges faced by rural communities throughout the U.S.

• Rural Minds Founder Jeff Winton presented at the National Grange Legislative Fly-In on April 25, 2022. The event provided Grange members with an effective way to engage in advocacy by joining together to promote Grange policy priorities, participate in advocacy training, and put the training to use by informing legislators and regulators about the important issues impacting people living in rural communities.

• National Grange Community Service Director Pete Pompper will participate in Rural Minds’ second Rural Mental Health Connections Webinar on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. This live Zoom event will spotlight Jeff “Ditz” Ditzenberger – a Wisconsin farmer who will share his personal experience with attempting suicide, confronting and managing bipolar II disorder, returning to farming, and founding TUGS, a mental health nonprofit.

Taking Action – The Next Steps

As we come together to raise awareness of mental health issues and help overcome the unique challenges faced by people living in rural communities, the following are some action steps we can work towards implementing:

• Increase access to high-speed internet for rural communities across the country.

• Establish telemental health for the treatment of appropriate types of mental illnesses and ensure insurance coverage is available for those services.

• Raise awareness and help to secure state funding to support the 988 mental health crisis three-digit calling code (similar to 911), which is launching on July 16, 2022.

• Expand the network of rural mental health support groups to provide a safe and confidential forum for peer-to-peer support.

• Provide educational programs and materials for rural youth and residents to access resources and services available that address rural mental health challenges.

Support Current Legislation to Improve Mental Health

Being aware of and supporting the current legislation to improve mental health in the U.S. is another way to help move our initiatives forward. The following are some of the proposed bills that will have a positive impact on mental health in rural America:

• The Mental Health for Kids and Underserved Act (S. 4039)
  This bill would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide guidance to states on how they can increase access to mental and behavioral health services and treatment via telehealth under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

• The Cost of Mental Illness Act of 2022 (H.R. 7483)
  This bill would authorize a study of the costs of serious mental illness on U.S. families, hospitals, nursing homes, and the penal system, as well as a national survey to determine the actual number of people living with schizophrenia.

• Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2021 (S. 2061)
  This bill would eliminate certain restrictions relating to Medicare coverage of mental health services provided through telehealth.

• Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Act (H.R. 1803)
  This bill would authorize the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) to fund programs in K-12 schools to promote and support student mental health and help prevent student suicides.

• State Legislation to Fund and Implement ‘988’ for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  State legislatures are introducing and passing legislation in preparation for the July 2022 rollout of 988, the new congressionally mandated three-digit calling code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Join Us

We invite you to join us in our mission to improve mental health in rural communities throughout the U.S. If you or someone you know is in need of support, visit our Mental Health Resources for a comprehensive list of organizations that provide mental health services and support. And to help stay informed about issues that impact mental health in rural America, sign up to receive email updates from Rural Minds and follow us on social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram).