MOUNT VERNON — The Mount Vernon-Lisbon unit of the League of Women Voters of Linn County met at the Mount Vernon City Hall on May 28 to discuss mental health needs and resources in small towns. The event centered around guest speaker Aubrey McEnroe, PhD candidate at the University of Iowa. McEnroe, an Algona native, is working to provide better access to mental health care in rural Iowa towns. Post graduation, McEnroe will be moving back to Algona and her family farm, while also working to establish a mental health clinic and further resources in the community.

Early on in the meeting, McEnroe led the group through an activity in which they were to draw their community and its agriculture. This activity helped to flow into the main presentation McEnroe gave on rural mental health.

“Agriculture has its own complex stressors that contribute to mental health,” McEnroe said. “Experiences of isolation are often found in rural communities and agriculture.”

McEnroe is also particularly focused on women’s mental health in the agriculture industry and rural areas, as this demographic of women are four times as likely to experience symptoms of depression.

Although the agriculture workforce is 36% women, McEnroe says that they are less likely to be represented in mental health studies and resources. Speaking of resources, this was also a major talking point from McEnroe, who emphasized how important access to resources is in a small community, especially rural based ones.

“There are limited mental health resources, and the pure number of mental health providers is limited,” said McEnroe. “Telehealth is not available for many individuals in rural communities.”

The resources that McEnroe specifically mentioned during her presentation included Annie’s Project, Iowa Women in Agriculture Organization, Farmer Organization, and Agriculture Network. McEnroe also emphasized utilizing word of mouth, clinics, flyers, and the internet to find resources that fit an individual’s particular needs. McEnroe and the unit also spent time workshopping how to navigate the stigma surrounding mental health, such as integrating mental health lessons into youth groups such as 4H and the National FFA Organization.

I’m talking with my current FFA teacher back home about teaching a class,” McEnroe said.

The night concluded with the group discussing how the community can help combat mental health crises in the rural community, such as the rising suicide rates in farmers. McEnroe’s presentation highlighted the importance of building a strong community within rural towns to combat resulting struggles.

“Find that community within your community by checking in regularly to build that trust,” McEnroe said. “Being able to meet them where you are, and not being afraid to be vulnerable yourself.”