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.”

PENNSYLVANIA — Farmers spend a lot of time managing their equipment, their animals and their crops, but there’s one area they need to pay more attention to: their mental health.

Jeff Winton is the founder and chairman of Rural Minds, a nonprofit based in Mayville, NY that aims to combat the staggering rates of suicide and depression that plague the agricultural community nationwide. As a farmer himself, Winton knows that rural communities would rather hear advice from one of their own.

Rural Minds Founder & Chairman Jeff Winton recently spoke on a webinar hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The webinar is the second session of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's (AFSP) Health Equity Summit, focusing on advancing health equity in suicide prevention. The summit emphasizes the need for culturally relevant, relatable, and accessible resources for communities with disproportionate impacts related to suicide, including rural communities.

A national nonprofit is launching a program to help rural youths talk with each other about mental health struggles.

Rural Minds will pilot the Rural Youth Mental Wellness program starting in October in New York and Pennsylvania.

It is expected to roll out nationwide in fall 2026.

The program will focus on the particular challenges of young people who live in rural areas.

“We’ve got to start looking at mental health differently than what we have done for generations, especially in rural areas,” says Jeff Winton a multigenerational dairy farmer from New York. “Our mission is to serve as the informed voice for mental health in rural America and to provide mental health information and resources. We are working to confront mental health challenges in rural communities and the stigma that surrounds mental illness.”