Curious Plot awards Seed to Succeed pro bono grant to Rural Minds
A silent epidemic is ravaging rural America. Compared to urban counterparts, rural Americans have a higher rate of depression[1] and suicide[2]. Yet, access to mental health services is disproportionally lower in rural communities[3]. With these needs in mind, Curious Plot team members selected the nonprofit Rural Minds™ as its 2022 Seed to Succeed pro bono grant recipient in an agency-wide vote.
The goal of Rural Minds is to illuminate and destigmatize mental health challenges in rural America and provide connections to mental health services across the country. Rural Minds is collaborating with national, state and local agriculture and mental health nonprofits and small rural-focused nonprofits, along with corporate sponsors and private donors, to make a positive impact on addressing mental health challenges in the agriculture industry and throughout rural America.
As part of the grant, this year Curious Plot will provide up to $75,000 of in-kind public relations, creative, social/digital and content strategy to Rural Minds to help advance its goal and mission.
“We are excited to support Rural Minds as our latest Seed to Succeed grant recipient, continuing a long tradition of our company providing a philanthropic boost to emerging and essential nonprofits within the industries we represent,” said Laurie Fleck, president and CEO of Curious Plot. “Rural Minds is especially meaningful. It’s an honor to dedicate agency time to help this recently formed organization increase awareness and resources to help end the silent stigma around mental health issues for rural Americans.”
“We were surprised, humbled and touched that Rural Minds was chosen to receive this grant,” says Jeff Winton, a New York dairy producer, businessman and founder of Rural Minds. “This relationship with Curious Plot is going to be a game changer for Rural Minds, especially at this point in our development as an organization.”
Since 2009, the Seed to Succeed pro bono grant program has provided marketing support to nonprofits within these sectors that work for positive change on limited budgets. Past recipients include Produce for Better Health Foundation, Grow North MN, Project Evergreen, Farm Journal Foundation, Southern Peanut Growers and Partnership for Food Safety Education.
Mental Health Support
If you or someone you know is suicidal or in emotional distress, call 800-273-8255 for 24/7 support. If this is a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
References
[1] Capriotti T, Pearson T, Dufour L. (2020, February 18). Health Disparities in Rural America: Current Challenges and Future Solutions. Clinical Advisor. Retrieved from https://www.clinicaladvisor.com/home/topics/practice-management-information-center/health-disparities-in-rural-america-current-challenges-and-future-solutions/
[2] NBC. Suicide rates are rising, especially in rural America. (2019, September 6). Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/health/mental-health/suicide-rates-are-rising-especially-rural-america-n1050806
[3] JAMA, Assessment of Changes in Rural and Urban Primary Care Workforce in the United States from 2009 to 2017, Original Investigation Health Policy, Oct. 28, 2020; Donglan Zhang, PhD1; Heejung Son, MS1,2; Ye Shen, PhD2; et al