Rural Project Examples: Men

Effective Examples

HoMBReS

Updated/reviewed February 2022

• Need: To reduce the risk of HIV/STDs among Latino men living in rural regions of the United States.
• Intervention: Soccer team leaders are elected and trained as lay health advisors to promote sexual health education among team members.
• Results: Program participants report an increase in HIV testing, an increase in condom use, and an increase in awareness of how to prevent the transmission of HIV.

Other Project Examples

Healthy Men Michigan

Updated/reviewed November 2023

• Need: Mental health assessment and referral to resources for men in rural Michigan who struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts.
• Intervention: The Healthy Men Michigan campaign was a research study testing online screening for depression, including irritability and anger, and suicide risk in working-aged men. The Healthy Men Michigan campaign website also provided referrals to local and national resources specific to men's mental health and suicide prevention.
• Results: More than 5,000 individuals completed anonymous online screenings and 550 men enrolled in the study. Healthy Men Michigan secured partnerships with over 225 individual and organizational partners, including healthcare facilities, small businesses, and recreational groups across the state. Together, their efforts have helped to promote screenings, reduce stigma, and encourage help-seeking behavior to prevent suicide.

The Coffee Break Project

Updated/reviewed October 2023

• Need: Men in the agriculture industry face high suicide rates due to factors including long hours, geographic isolation, lack of social opportunities, and stigma surrounding mental health care.
• Intervention: The Coffee Break Project, a program led by Valley-Wide Health Systems, Inc. in southeastern Colorado, encourages mental health check-ins for farmers and ranchers through a public awareness campaign and casual coffee gatherings that utilize COMET, an intervention model developed specifically for rural communities.
• Results: Between eight and 20 people typically attend each coffee gathering.

Geezers, Gulpers, and Gardeners

Updated/reviewed September 2022

• Need: Suicide rates among white males age 65 and older have been rising in North Carolina. Challenges include losing friends, illnesses, and the loss of independence – all of which can lead to isolation and depression.
• Intervention: The Chatham County Council on Aging of North Carolina started Geezers, Gulpers, and Gardeners (3G Group) to connect retired men in need of male friends and mutual support.
• Results: Men in similar stages of life and varying backgrounds are forming friendships, engaging in activities, and taking care of their mental health.