Mental health in small our small towns is one of the issues that is top of mind here at Growing Small Towns, and we know that is true for many of you in your communities, too. It’s an issue that can be really difficult to tackle, and we feel so lucky to have Monica on the show to talk about it with us, share her expertise, and give us all some actionable items and things we can pay attention to in order to help ourselves, our families and friends, and our communities   About Monica: Monica Kramer McConkey has 25 years of experience in the behavioral health field as a counselor, program supervisor and administrator. She has a Masters Degree in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Minnesota.  The focus throughout her career has been to increase access to, and remove the stigma often attached to mental health services in rural underserved areas.  Monica travels throughout the country educating and speaking through her business Eyes on the Horizon Consulting helping individuals and organizations improve resilience and mental wellness.     In this episode, we cover:

• Why mental health can be so challenging in small towns
• The four protective factors for mental health
• • Physical
  • Social
  • Psychological
  • Spiritual
• One thing small-town residents can do today to address mental health in their own community

Links and Resources Mentioned: Eyes on the Horizon Consulting: https://www.eyesonthehorizon.org/ Eyes on the Horizon Consulting on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eyesonthehorizonconsulting/ Surgeon General’s advisory about loneliness and isolation