5. Rural Minds

A very concerning health fact was brought to the Grange’s attention — people in rural areas, and especially farmers, are more likely to commit suicide than individuals in urban areas.

Rural people’s nature of being private about their affairs and their general determination to take care of themselves contributes to this problem.

The lack of mental health treatment in rural areas is also a contributing factor.

“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.