In this episode, we have a compelling conversation with Jeff Winton, the founder and chairman of Rural Minds, a nonprofit organization working to provide mental health information and support services for rural Americans. Rural Minds was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to address the significant impact on mental health in rural areas. The organization offers various resources and webinars on crucial topics like substance use disorder, sleep, and nutrition, aiming to normalize conversations about mental illness and reduce the stigma surrounding it. Through the power of storytelling, Rural Minds is putting a face on mental illness and creating a safe space for people to share their experiences.

“When we talk about tough situations, the conversation about suicide and mental health is tough, but it’s even harder to have that conversation when you lose someone.” That’s how farmer Jeff “Ditz” Ditzenberger began his presentation during a recent Rural Mental Health Connections webinar, hosted by the National Grange. The webinar series is sponsored by Rural Minds, a nonprofit, and the National Grange, which both have missions of education, impacting people and their communities in positive ways and giving people an opportunity to grow.