Sharing one’s personal mental health journey can be an important step towards healing and recovery. Although no two personal experiences of struggle or loss are the same, sharing those lived experiences can help others realize that they are not alone, that help is available and there is hope for their own recovery.

What Are Some Topic Ideas?

• Your personal experience with mental illness and resilience (e.g., as an individual, family member, caregiver, friend, etc.)

• Ways to help end stigma

• Tips and strategies for coping, healing and living well

Guidelines for Sharing Your Story

You don’t have to be a professional writer to share your lived experience with mental illness. We can help you edit and refine your story before we share it. Keep in mind that all blog submissions go through a screening and editing process to ensure they fit Rural Minds’ editorial style.

When submitting a blog to Rural Minds, we request that your content is original and has not been published elsewhere. Here are some additional guidelines to follow to help you get your story published:

• Keep the length of your piece at 1,000 words or less.

• Use an informative, yet friendly tone.

• Write with an easy-to-understand, conversational style, as if you’re speaking with someone.

• Include links to citations when providing health statistics or claims.

• Be sure that the information provided in your blog submission does not promote the direct or indirect sale of any products or paid services.

• Provide your full name and a brief biography – up to 50 words – to be included at the end of your piece.

• Attach your draft as a Word document to your email and send it to info@ruralminds.org.

Rural Minds reserves the right to edit blog submissions for length and content. Please note that not all submissions will be accepted.