Improving Access to Mental Health Care: The Youth Mental Health Corps in Rural Arkansas

According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), more than 1.1 million Arkansans live in communities without enough mental health professionals. Many rural communities across Arkansas continue to experience shortages of healthcare professionals and nearby hospitals, limiting their overall ability to access any type of treatment. As a result, residents often travel farther to receive care, creating additional barriers to timely healthcare services. 

These shortages are particularly concerning for young people. NAMI Arkansas reports that 1 in 9 adolescents ages 12–17 experience serious thoughts of suicide each year. As more young adults under 18 continue to experience behavioral health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, the need for accessible mental health services continues to grow.

A New Approach to Care 

As demand for youth mental health services increases, organizations across the United States are working to close the gap. The Youth Mental Health Corps (YMHC), a country-wide cross-collaborative initiative designed to expand access to youth mental health services while building a stronger, more diverse behavioral health workforce, officially launching in Arkansas this fall. Led by Engage Arkansas, this statewide network of partners aligns education, service, and workforce systems to expand youth mental health support while building sustainable pathways into behavioral health careers.

At the heart of YMHC are AmeriCorps members between the ages of 18 and 24 who will serve as peer and near-peer mentors in schools and community organizations. Rather than telling communities what they need, the program will empower local people to support one another, creating relationships built on trust, connection, and shared experiences. 

Made By Rural Communities, For Rural Communities 

As a partner helping to spearhead the Engage Arkansas initiative, Arkansas Rural Health Partnership aims to strengthen the capacity of rural communities to support local health and well-being. Their YMHC program, Rural Health Corps (RHC), will prepare AmeriCorps members through specialized training in areas such as Youth Mental Health First Aid, suicide prevention, and community health work before placing them in schools to provide near-peer mental health support.

Equipped with these skills, members help build community infrastructure, support local health initiatives, connect young people with mental health resources, and expand the capacity of local organizations.

For Seth Wyatt, the Senior Service Corps Director of RHC, the program is designed to be a force multiplier: increasing access to care while strengthening the rural healthcare workforce. “We’re really trying to solve two problems at once, which is the access gap and the workforce gap,” Wyatt said. “Only when those two things are solved together do we think you’re really addressing the issue.”

Shaping the Future of Support

Beyond meeting immediate community needs, Rural Health Partnership’s Rural Health Corps will create a pathway into behavioral health careers. While members serve students in schools, they will gain hands-on experience, specialized training, and professional certifications that prepare them to become the next generation of behavioral health professionals. By devoting time and resources in both people and communities, the program will be helping rural Arkansas build a stronger healthcare workforce for the future.

As Wyatt explained, “In a lot of parts of the country, people tell you that they know what’s best for your community, and that doesn’t work, whether it’s rural or urban. We designed Rural Health Corps because when an AmeriCorps member is from that community or near that community, then that AmeriCorps program is completely community-driven.”

For teens and other young adults, opening up about mental health can feel intimidating; on the other hand, having someone closer in age who shares similar experiences can make those conversations feel more comforting. 

While discussing the importance of Rural Health Corps, Wyatt highlighted this strength, noting, “When you help somebody through today’s crisis, you earn tomorrow’s trust.” That philosophy reflects the program’s spirit of continued service and YMHC’s mission of building a stronger, more sustainable support system for youth. By investing in both immediate care and future professionals, the program will help ensure rural communities have the infrastructure to foster better livelihoods.

Click here to learn more about Arkansas Rural Health Partnership & Rural Health Corps!

Click here to learn more about Youth Mental Health Corps and opportunities to serve!

Yuliana Murillo, 2026