Rural Health
Eighteen percent of America's population live in rural areas comprising 84% of the nation’s lands. Rural residents have higher poverty rates, include a larger percentage of elderly, tend to be in poorer health, have fewer doctors, hospitals, and other health resources, and face greater difficulties getting to health services than their urban brethren.
By comparison, 54% of Mississippi’s population is rural. More than half of our doctors practice in four urban areas and all or part of our 82 counties are considered to be medically underserved. The rural nature of our state contributes to an uneven distribution of health care resources and impacts the level of health of our residents.
Publications
News
While National Rural Health Day is celebrated Nov. 18, the Mississippi State University Extension Service works daily to build and maintain this personal and community-level commodity.
Citizens in northern Sunflower County can use a new ride-sharing service to maintain an independent and healthy lifestyle. The service, called Healthy Destination Access, kicked off June 15 with ribbon cuttings in Rome and Drew.
To some people, farming is an idyllic way of life, but producers face some unique stressors that can impact their well-being. In fact, a national poll by the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2019 confirmed that about two in five farmers and farm workers reported experiencing increased stress levels and more mental health challenges since 2014.
MISSISSIPPI STATE, Miss. -- A Mississippi State University Extension Service specialist has been elected to the National Board of Public Health Examiners board of directors.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Protecting providers of the world’s food includes looking out for their mental well-being.
To address this, the Mississippi State University Extension Service has certified over 20 personnel to facilitate a skills-based, online training program: Adult Mental Health First Aid. This curriculum teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health disorders and crises in their communities.
Success Stories
Rural Medical & Science Scholars program provides insight, courage for careers
Zoe Fokakis is on her way to realizing her dream of becoming a physician scientist. That dream was partly fueled by her participation in the Rural Medical & Science Scholars program.
Extension food pantry serves rural community
On Tuesdays and Thursdays before lunch, Robert Jamison is usually exercising with people who have been his neighbors in Lambert for 30 years. The Quitman County Veterans Service Officer also volunteers for a food pantry there that serves about 800 local families every other month. The county does not have a grocery store, but the pantry, since it opened in 2014, has helped people in need.
Extension medical program offers career insights
He delayed his journey to become a doctor, but Johnny Lippincott has been intrigued by the field since childhood.
When she started school in a New York kindergarten classroom and participated in her first “dress-up day,” Bridgette “Brie” Cerda-Marin chose the doctor costume.
And, in her own words: “I’ve wanted to be a doctor ever since.”
See what's new in Extension: Gather for First Extension Beef-Production Workshop, the Food Factor Goes Digital, Extension Professionals Share Expertise, and Extension Offers New HappyHealthy Program.
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