Dear Friend, 

As Americans prepare for Thanksgiving, I hope that all of you are planning to enjoy the holiday with your friends and family. This special time of year gives us all an opportunity to reflect and appreciate the many blessings we have as Americans.

Last week in Washington, we recognized National Rural Health Day. Unfortunately, many rural Americans face unique challenges when seeking health care. We must recommit to doing all we can to bridge the gap.

Watch a message from Congressman Emmer on rural health here.

Tragically, rural Americans are especially vulnerable to mental health concerns and are chronically underserved when it comes to treatment. According to a survey from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, nearly seven million rural Americans suffer from mental health disorders and were 1.8 times more likely to die from suicide than their urban counterparts.

In recognition of these challenges, we reintroduced a resolution to designate November 17, 2022, as “National Rural Mental Health Day”. By continuing to raise awareness of the challenges our rural communities face, we move closer to the day when all Americans have equal access to quality mental health care.

We need to ensure that none of our communities escape our care and attention. While there is much to do this Congress, I remain committed to expanding access to reliable mental health care for all Americans, regardless of zip code.  

Sincerely,