Rural Youth Mental Wellness Program Generating National, Local Interest

It has been several weeks since a national nonprofit based in Chautauqua County launched a program that provides tools and resources for teenagers in rural America who are dealing with mental health issues. Jeff Winton, founder and chair of Rural Minds, says hundreds of people nationwide have been using the Rural Youth Mental Wellness Program since its September launch. Winton, who was a guest on WDOE's "Viewpoint" program on Tuesday, says there has been local interest as well...

Jeff Winton: being used in some local schools

Winton says the program has also drawn interest from other countries...

Jeff Winton: heard from a worker in Colombia

The initiative is being done in partnership with Northwestern University. Winton adds that while most of the available data for the program is anectodal, it's already running ahead of other programs done in partnership with Northwestern. The Rural Youth Mental Wellness Program is geared to address the suicide rate for rural youth ages 15-19, which is 74% greater than for their urban counterparts, according to the CDC.

Click here to listen to the entire "Viewpoint" interview featuring Jeff Winton.

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