Mental Health America (MHA) is hosting a summit in observance of National Rural Health Day, focused on supporting the unique mental health challenges of rural communities and workforces. The event will spotlight actionable strategies from experts, community leaders, and MHA resources to promote well-being and resilience across rural workplaces, families, and communities.
Agenda
12–12:05 p.m. ET | Welcome & opening remarks from MHA
MHA will welcome attendees, review the summit agenda, and introduce speakers.
12:05–12:45 p.m. ET | Session 1: Workplace well-being in rural settings
This session will explore how employers can prioritize worker mental health by providing mental health support and accommodations, along with practical guidance on how employees can gain knowledge and confidence to request accommodations. Speakers will discuss strategies that are effective in providing support for a range of mental health concerns within rural workplace environments, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and neurodiversity.
12:45–1:30 p.m. ET | Session 2: Community connection and resource sharing for suicide prevention
This session will explore evidence-based suicide prevention strategies tailored for rural populations, tactics for leveraging local community networks, and methods to distribute life-saving resources while actively reducing stigma.
1:30–2:15 p.m. ET | Session 3: The impact of substance use on rural communities
This session will explore the current landscape of substance use disorders in rural regions. Speakers will discuss systemic barriers to treatment and harm reduction strategies, and recovery models that build resilient, community-centered support systems.
2:15–2:45 p.m. ET | Rural mental health screening
This session will share insights from MHA’s national screening program, including data from rural communities, and explain how to leverage MHA’s free mental health screens to meet people where they are in rural areas and connect them to support.
2:45–3 p.m. ET | MHA resource sharing and close out
MHA will close out the summit with reflections and shared learning, and will share additional resources available from MHA.