Mental
Health
Why Mental Health?
Mental health in rural America faces unique challenges that several people struggle to overcome. The isolation of rural life is compounded by long journeys to find help, a shortage of mental health professionals, and overworked clinics unable to provide the support people need.
Connecting technology that works for rural communities
In rural communities, mental well-being goes beyond therapy sessions, it’s about staying grounded for work, supporting loved ones, and being an active part of your community. AscendRural understands that innovation in rural mental health care is about creating solutions that are accessible, human-centered, and truly effective in rural areas.
2025 Youth Resilience Pilots
In 2024, AscendRural identified its first series of pilots through a national Challenge process in partnership with ScaleHealth focused on technologies that support and improve youth resilience.
In early March 2025, in collaboration with five community organizations from central Minnesota, AscendRural launched a series pilots to test two technologies to serve rural youth and caregivers.
Bridging the gap between innovation and rural communities:
Bringing Care Closer to Home
Virtual therapy sessions, online counseling, and remote mental health services eliminate the need for long, stressful drives to distant providers. People can access professional support from the comfort of their own homes.
Preventing Mental Health Crisis
Digital wellness programs, self-help apps, and online peer support give rural residents tools to care for their mental health proactively—before challenges can lead to crises.
Relieving Pressure on Local Providers
Rural clinics often have limited staff, making it hard to meet the growing demand for care. AI-powered screenings, digital mental health tools, and virtual therapy can ease the burden on providers and increase the reach of quality care.
Expanding the Workforce
With fewer mental health professionals in rural areas, technology can help fill the gap through virtual care, online training for clinicians, and collaborative remote care models.
Real Solutions for Rural Mental Health
AscendRural isn’t just talking about improving rural mental health—we’re already making it happen. Through innovative pilot programs, we’re collaborating with local leaders, mental health professionals, and tech innovators to develop solutions that can scale across rural communities, making mental health care easier to access, more effective, and truly responsive to local needs.
Are you interested in learning more about our pilots or joining the effort to improve mental health in rural areas? Let’s connect.