News Director Terry Frank is joined by the founder, and head of the national organization known as "Rural Minds" which is the only national, 501(c)3 organization that focuses solely on mental health equity. Winton says they represent not just farmers and ranchers, but, all 46-million people who live in rural parts of the United States. He says he started the group about 4-and-a-half years ago, after a family tragedy in which his nephew had committed suicide. Winton says no one knew or realized he was dealing with those issues because he seemed fine. He says he's optimistic though because the younger generations -- even those living in rural areas -- are more inclined to open up about their struggles. Winton says a lot of their work is based off of "storytelling," and using that to get people to talk about those struggles. We discuss efforts to get people to get over the stigma, and into help, which sometimes is hard to find in more isolated, and rural areas. We also talk about immediate help that's available at the national Suicide Help line at 988.

A national nonprofit organization based in Chautauqua County recently launched a program aimed at supporting mental wellness for farmers and farm families. Jeff Winton, the founder and chairman of Rural Minds, spoke about the Farmer Mental Health Resilience Program as a guest on Friday's edition of "Viewpoint" on WDOE. Winton says the program is like a "toolkit" for farmers who may not be comfortable discussing mental health issues in a support group or with a mental health provider...

“Rural Americans, including those here in New York State, are nearly 50 percent more likely to die by suicide than residents living in more urban areas. What is even more shocking is that young people growing up in rural areas like Chautauqua County are 74 percent more likely to die by suicide than their urban peers. This is unacceptable and something must be done before more lives are lost,” said Jeff Winton of Mayville, founder and chairman of Rural Minds, an organization dedicated to improving mental health in rural areas. “The formation of this committee will allow New York State to further focus and advance suicide prevention and improved mental health services for all residents of this state. A similar bill has been passed in Maryland that is helping to provide insights and greater understanding of this growing epidemic we have in America, where every 11 minutes someone dies from suicide.”

Rural Minds Founder and Chairman Jeff Winton recently joined host Peter Stockdale on the Spin Markket Report to discuss the founding of Rural Minds, the unique challenges farmers and rural Americans face, the impact Jeff has seen since its inception, and more.

 On February 4, 2026, the Congressional Neuroscience Caucus (CNC), in cooperation with the American Brain Coalition (ABC), American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP), American Neurological Association (ANA), American Psychiatric Association, One Mind, Society for Neuroscience, The STARR Coalition, Bristol Myers Squibb, Neurocrine Biosciences, and Otsuka US, hosted a briefing highlighting the current neuroscience research that explains how mental health conditions develop, how stigma influences health outcomes, and what evidence-based strategies can effectively reduce societal and self-stigma.

Rural Minds Founder & Chairman, Jeff Winton, recently joined host Mike Rydell on The Crop Insurance Podcast.

“In this episode of the Crop Insurance Podcast, I’m joined by Jeff Winton, a dairy farmer and the founder/chairman of Rural Minds — a national nonprofit focused on improving mental health equity in rural America. Jeff shares the personal story that sparked Rural Minds, what he’s hearing across farm communities, and practical ways to start the conversation, reduce stigma, and connect people to real help.

Jeff Winton, founder and CEO of Rural Minds, a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Chautauqua County that focuses on mental health equity for the 46 million people who live in rural America, noted that it is not just the weather this year that has been causing stress for farmers, but a lot of what is going on in the world as well. He added that the amount of extreme weather conditions seen across the country this year are not helping the matter either.

Rural Minds, a nonprofit advocating for better mental health services in farm country, is backing legislation it says will boost its mission.

The bipartisan EPIC Act — Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures — aims to reduce barriers to incentives for developing drugs people in rural communities can readily access.

Communities are only as healthy as their members.

During the recent Farm Foundation Forum, Reviving Rural: Agriculture as the Heartbeat of Healthy Communities, a conversation about reviving rural health, prosperity and resilience was discussed by a slate of panelists.

Rural roots often grow deep—in the communities that serve them—and the people that call them home. 

The Farm Foundation Forum, Reviving Rural: Agriculture as the Heartbeat of Healthy Communities, was held recently online, by the Farm Foundation and the American Farmland Trust to help have the needed conversation of protecting and enhancing agriculture, which can help the revival of rural health, prosperity and resilience.  

Rural Minds Founder and Chairman Jeff Winton recently spoke on a webinar hosted by Farm Foundation, titled Farm Foundation Forum: Reviving Rural — Agriculture as the Heartbeat of Healthy Communities In partnership with American Farmland Trust.

Rural Americans are some of the most tenacious and giving individuals on the planet. While many of us identify as farmers and ranchers on a level far exceeding that of many “normal” careers, that devotion can come at a mental cost when managing the challenges associated with feeding the world.

As a Chautauqua County native and resident and mental health advocate, I was beyond appalled to read the callous comments made by the Dunkirk City Council in the article on May 10 OBSERVER, “Destitute man vexes city officials.”

Farmer’s are two to four percent more likely to die by suicide than any other occupation. A statistic Jeff Winton is all too familiar with after losing his own nephew, a dairy farmer, to suicide. After this event, Jeff created the non-profit organization Rural Minds, whose mission is to advocate for mental health awareness in rural America and to provide resources and information to those who need it.

The Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club held its annual Rural-Urban Day recently. The guest speaker was Jeff Winton, founder of Rural Minds, who spoke to an audience of 50 attendees, including local students, regarding the need for good mental health in rural communities

Rural Minds Founder and Chairman Jeff Winton, a native and resident of Chautauqua County, NY, sits down with MyCHQ Owner and Operator Dylan Moran to discuss the issues underlying the mental health challenges in rural America.

Join Rural Minds Founder and Chairman, Jeff Winton, as he discusses our ongoing work on behalf of the 46 million Americans living in rural areas with Doc Hamels, host of local access television program Chautauqua Sunrise. In particular, Jeff and Doc talk about the importance of May being Mental Health Awareness Month.

Join Katie Sale, Executive Director of ABC, for a conversation with Jeff Winton, Founder and Chairman of Rural Minds. Discover the history of Rural Minds and learn how they strive to be the informed voice for individuals affected by mental health issues in rural America.

MAYVILLE, NY - Rural Minds Founder and Chairman Jeff Winton was presented with the prestigious "Cap Creal" Communicator of the Year Award at the 193rd Annual Forum of the New York State Agricultural Society on January 9, 2025, in Syracuse, N.Y. The event featured the NYS Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets' "State of Agriculture" address.

"On behalf of the 46 million rural Americans we serve, our partners and our team members, I am honored and grateful to have received the New York State Agricultural Society's 2025 'Cap Creal' Communicator Award," said Winton. "We appreciate the recognition and opportunity to raise awareness for rural mental health challenges and expand our work partnering with individuals and organizations to improve rural mental health."

Rural Minds Founder & Chairman Jeff Winton is joined by NY FarmNet Family Counselor Christina Marsh on host Doc Hamels’ Chautauqua Sunrise. Doc discusses the mental health crisis in rural America with Jeff and Christina.