Mental Health & Emotional Safety
Mental healtH & emotional safety
Mental health is health.
Mental health is an essential part of our overall well-being and safety. It’s completely normal to feel sad, anxious, or overwhelmed when life gets tough. But sometimes, these feelings can grow into a crisis that affects both our emotional and physical health.
It’s not always easy to get mental health support—especially in rural areas—where services might be far away, too expensive, or surrounded by stigma.
If you’re struggling, you’re not alone—and help is available. If you are thinking about suicide or feeling unsafe, please reach out immediately. Call 911 in an emergency or contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support 24/7.
If someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can also call 988. Professionals are available to help you connect them with the care they need.
If you are a parent or caregiver of a child experiencing a mental health crisis: Visit these resources from the Suicidal Adolescent Family Empowerment (SAFE) program from the UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
Center resources
Other resources
- 5 Action steps to help someone having thoughts of suicide (National Institute of Mental Health)
- Mental health and farm workers (Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health & Safety)
- Rural mental health (Rural Health Information Hub)
- Rural suicide prevention toolkit (Rural Health Information Hub)
- Mental health in rural communities toolkit (Rural Health Information Hub)
Explore RPATs
Our Research and Practice Action Teams (RPATs) are topical areas of focus.