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Addressing Rural Mental Health Inequities: Raising Mental Health Awareness and
Reducing Stigma in Faith-Based Communities

S. Grenon 1

1
School of Nursing, Duke University, United States

Background: Mental health concerns affect millions of Americans annually; further exacerbated by
the Covid-19 pandemic. Rural areas face unique challenges due to limited access to mental health
care, augmented by social disparities and cultural stigma.

Objective: The overall program goal was to improve the mental health support network in
Rockingham County to better meet the mental health needs of the community. Community
partners decided to train individuals in faith communities to accomplish this goal and selected an
evidence-based training program created by Mental Health Gateway, an agency dedicated to
decreasing barriers to mental health and reducing stigma.

Methods: Leveraging partnerships with local organizations, this project implemented the Empower
training program to equip community members with skills and resources to identify and respond to
mental health crises.

Results: Post-intervention survey results showed improved knowledge and confidence among
participants in mental health crisis intervention. Lessons learned included the importance of involving
trusted community members in marketing and program design, the value of partnerships
in bringing mental health training into community spaces, and the use of low-cost, pre-existing
resources to support sustainability.

Oral Presentation Abstracts
Conclusion: Programs that train community members to recognize and respond to mental health
crises and promote mental health resources can help address limited mental health resources in
rural communities.

Keywords: mental health, rural health, crisis intervention, faith-based nursing, community health

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Correspondence: Sarah Grenon, School of Nursing, Duke University, United States
E-mail: sarah.grenon@duke.edu

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