New Resources Support Rural Youth Mental Health AccesS
September 1, 2026 | By: Nicole Heslip
Rural Minds Social Media and Program Manager Adriel Rigsby spoke with Brownfield Ag News about the Rural Youth Mental Wellness Program, a new digital platform built with Northwestern University's Lab for Scalable Mental Health.
"Rural youth ages 15 to 19 are dying by suicide at a rate 74 percent higher than urban peers," Rigsby told Brownfield.
The program was designed to address three main barriers standing between rural youth and mental health support: access, affordability, and stigma. It offers sessions to help young people better understand feelings like depression and anxiety, and to recognize warning signs related to suicide.
"Our goal at the end of the day is to share these resources and information, and save lives," Rigsby said.
The Rural Youth Mental Wellness Program launches nationwide this September for National Suicide Prevention Month. Listen for more information below.