The power of rural
In honor of National Rural Health Day, UND’s Center for Rural Health salutes those across North Dakota who are making a difference
By Jena Pierce
Every November, the UND Center for Rural Health (CRH) celebrates National Rural Health Day. This year, National Rural Health Day is Nov. 20, and is a chance to celebrate the “power of rural” by honoring the selfless, community-minded spirit that prevails in rural America.
This day allows communities to applaud rural health care providers and in turn, offers a chance for health care organizations to highlight how they care for their rural communities.
Here are several examples of how organizations are working to better their communities.
Veterans mental health support
Over the past year, Peer Vision for Mental Health has been working to provide outreach to rural areas in north central North Dakota to develop veteran peer support and reduce suicide rates among rural veterans.
The peer support program offers a variety of activities, including art projects, creative writing, peer awareness and both one-on-one and group discussions. Since receiving funding from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) Caring Foundation Rural Health Grants Program, 18 individuals have completed Intentional Peer Support training; seven are veterans, and 11 work for organizations serving veterans.
Holly Long, project coordinator for CRH, oversees the BCBSND Caring Foundation Rural Health Grant Program and has seen firsthand the impact these dollars can have.
“The Peer Vision for Mental Health project in Minot, N.D., is a powerful example of how rural communities can lead the way in addressing mental health challenges with compassion and innovation,” Long said. “By connecting veterans and rural residents through peer support, this initiative strengthens the bonds of trust and belonging that are often the first steps toward healing. It shows that meaningful change in rural health doesn’t always start with large systems. It starts with people helping people, right where they live.”
Preventing behavioral health crises
Behavioral health is a pressing concern among Critical Access Hospitals, and the communities they serve. Through the North Dakota Behavioral Health Cohort, four Critical Access Hospitals in North Dakota are actively working to prevent behavioral health crises and improve mental health education in rural communities, including Carrington, Watford City, Elgin, and Harvey.
The three-year program is made possible through the North Dakota Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant (Flex) Program, and has allowed the Critical Access Hospitals in different corners of the state to come together and share ideas on how to address behavioral health concerns in their communities. Each of the four Critical Access Hospitals identified unique concerns in their community and drew up a plan to help alleviate them.
Community Star
National Rural Health Day also allows an opportunity to honor the 2025 North Dakota Community Star: Alan O’Neil, CEO of Unity Medical Center (UMC) in Grafton, N.D. Community Stars are a part of national recognition program that honors remarkable individuals and organizations going above and beyond for rural health through the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health.
Under O’Neil’s leadership, UMC has grown – adding an emergency department, a surgery center, 11 private patient rooms and a conference center/rural medical education center. This physical expansion also increased the hospital’s workforce and led to the acquisition of a da Vinci robot – the only one in North Dakota located at a Critical Access Hospital.
O’Neil and the staff at UMC are deeply involved in providing top-notch care for the people in Walsh County, so they can stay at home while receiving care.
Celebrating at the School of Medicine & Health Sciences
The Center for Rural Health will be hosting a booth in the atrium of the School of Medicine & Health Sciences on Nov. 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with trivia questions about health care, public health and North Dakota. Students, faculty and staff are welcome to stop by, grab a snack and test their knowledge.
North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong has issued a proclamation stating that Nov. 20, 2025, is Rural Health Day for North Dakota. On this day, take a few minutes to thank a local provider, send a shout out to a local public health office or find your own way to celebrate what rural health means to you, because rural health matters.
About the author:
Jena Pierce is communications manager for the Center for Rural Health.
