MAYVILLE, NY – Mental health nonprofit Rural Minds today announced that the video “Closing the Mental Health Gap Among Rural Youth in the US,” produced in partnership with Pfizer, the National Grange, and USA TODAY, was recognized at the 46th Annual Telly Awards with three awards for excellence in branded content:
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SILVER | Branded Content – Social Impact
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SILVER | Branded Content – Advocacy & Causes
The video highlights the unique mental health challenges faced by youth living in rural America. It features content from Asheton Medlin who grew up in the small town of Roxboro, North Carolina. In her first year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Medlin was deeply affected by the suicide of a classmate who was also a freshman and came from a small town. He lived in the same dorm and on the same floor as Medlin, and they were both struggling with the same classes. “I went from being the smartest kid in the school to being one of many smart kids. And it was like I was pulled underwater,” explained Medlin, a member of the National Grange. “It was the most difficult change I’ve ever had to deal with.” The most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that suicide rates among people living in rural areas are 64 to 68 percent higher than those in large urban areas. Youth living in rural areas are at higher risk of suicide compared to those living in urban areas. The rate of suicide among rural youth age 15-19 is 54% higher that of their urban counterparts and increased 74% over the past 12 years. Greater stigma around mental illness in rural communities, along with a common mindset of self-reliance and an independent approach to solving problems, can create an insurmountable barrier to getting help. Rural youth are at a greater risk of suicide, which is growing at a faster pace than in urban areas. For Jeff Winton, founder and chairman of Rural Minds, the stories behind those statistics hit home the hardest. After losing his nephew to suicide, Winton started the nonprofit organization to advocate for rural communities struggling with mental illness and substance use disorders. “The awards for this video are especially gratifying because they validate the importance of the content and provide the platform to present these difficult truths about rural mental health inequity to a broader audience,” said Winton. “Every person living in rural America – young or old – deserves access to quality healthcare, which includes mental healthcare.” The video was produced as part of a larger public awareness initiative by Pfizer and USA TODAY. Through evocative storytelling and grassroots collaboration, the project aims to shed light on the barriers to care that persist in rural communities, such as stigma, provider shortages, and geographic isolation, while also highlighting the resilience, kindness, and emerging advocacy within rural communities. The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens. This year, the awards received more than 13,000 entries from across the globe and winners included leading global brands, respected organizations and independent media companies such as Airbnb, Telemundo, and Volkswagen. To view the award-winning video, visit:
Rural Youth Mental Health Video – Closing the Mental Health Gap Among Rural Youth in the US
About Rural Minds Rural Minds™ is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with the mission to serve as the informed voice for mental health in rural America and to provide mental health information and resources. Rural Minds is the only national 501c3 nonprofit focused on advocating for rural mental health equity, promoting mental wellness, and providing educational content to confront rural mental health challenges and the stigma that surrounds mental illness for the 46 million people living in farming, ranching, and agriculture communities, small towns, and isolated areas across rural America. To learn more visit www.ruralminds.org. About the National Grange The National Grange is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, fraternal organization with more than 140,000 members in 1,500 communities across the country. The Grange is a leading advocacy organization for rural Americans with a strong history in grassroots activism, family values, and community service. The Grange has brought individuals and families together to support their communities and advocate on behalf of rural America and agriculture since 1867. To learn more visit www.nationalgrange.org.
