By Will Carter, III, MD, DHA, MS| The People’s Doctor
Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend an outstanding Youth Career Seminar that introduced young people to a wide variety of professions, including first responders, healthcare professionals, educators, skilled trades professionals, mental health specialists and community leaders.
At first glance, you might wonder: What does a youth career seminar have to do with rural health?
The answer is simple: everything.
Healthy communities are not built overnight. They are built by investing in young people long before they choose a career, long before they become parents and long before they become the leaders who will shape our neighborhoods. Every conversation, every mentor and every positive experience plants a seed that can influence the future health of an entire community.
We often hear the phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child.” I believe it also takes a village to build healthy communities.
For many young people growing up in rural America, exposure to different careers is limited. If they have never met a physician, engineer, therapist, researcher, entrepreneur or other professionals outside of their daily environment, it can be difficult to imagine themselves in those roles.
Exposure creates possibility. Possibility creates motivation. Motivation creates opportunity.
Just as importantly, young people need to know they have a support system. Parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, pastors, neighbors, healthcare professionals and community organizations all play an important role in encouraging children to dream bigger and reminding them that their goals are within reach.
This support is especially important when we consider the mental health challenges facing today’s youth.
The numbers are sobering. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly four in 10 high school students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and about one in five have seriously considered attempting suicide.
Those aren’t just statistics. They represent children in our communities, our schools, our churches and, sometimes, even our own families.
In many rural communities, those challenges can be even greater. Access to behavioral health services is often limited, transportation can be a barrier and too many young people still believe asking for help is a sign of weakness rather than strength. Research has consistently shown that suicide rates among youth and young adults are higher in rural communities than in urban areas, making early support, mentorship and access to care even more critical.
That is why I believe seminars like the one I attended are so important.
When a young person meets a physician, firefighter, welder, teacher, entrepreneur, attorney, journalist, law enforcement officer, counselor or another professional who is passionate about serving others, something changes.
Their world becomes a little bigger.
They begin to see possibilities they may have never considered before.
Sometimes all it takes is one conversation, one encouraging word or one person saying, “I believe in you.”
As healthcare professionals, we spend a great deal of time talking about diabetes, heart disease, obesity, hypertension and mental health. Those conversations matter.
But if we truly want healthier rural communities 20 years from now, we must begin investing in today’s children.
Healthy communities don’t begin in hospitals. They begin in homes, churches, schools, community centers and organizations willing to pour into the next generation.
If each of us commits to mentoring one young person, encouraging one student, supporting one family or simply showing a child they matter, we begin creating a healthier future long before that child ever walks into a clinic.
That is what I saw on Saturday.
I didn’t just see a career seminar. I saw hope.
I saw community.
I saw people investing their time in the next generation because they understand today’s youth will become tomorrow’s healthcare providers, educators, skilled trades professionals, business owners, attorneys, journalists, elected officials, parents and community leaders.
It really does take a village.
And if we want healthier rural communities tomorrow, the work starts with our youth today.
Stay well,
Dr. Will
Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider regarding your individual health needs.
