In a span of seven years, Morton County saw a staggering number of deaths by suicide. The grief in the community was insurmountable; the loss of lives leaving more questions than answers. One loss was Crystal Bashford’s coworker, a fellow K-State Extension agent she was close with.

“I always wonder if I could have stopped it,” Bashford says. “I know I probably couldn’t have, but it’s something everyone struggles with when something like this happens. He was one of my best friends.”

Bashford, who describes herself as a fixer — someone who acts when something goes wrong — knew the conversation around mental health had to change in her community. The rising number of suicides and the loss of her friend sparked her to act and create the Morton County Community Coalition as a step toward help and hope.

“Every time something tragic happens, our community talks about needing to do something,” she says. “For a long time, nothing was happening. We have the opportunity to at least try and make a change.”

For her work on mental health initiatives in Morton County, Bashford was selected as the 2026 Kansas Farm Bureau Rural Minds Matter Advocate of the Year. This award was created to celebrate individuals who are working on cultivating resilience and well-being among farmers, ranchers and rural communities.

KIOSKS OF KINDNESS

The Morton County Community Coalition was created in 2022 and is a group of individuals who collectively work on efforts to improve access to fundamental needs like childcare, food access and mental health resources. Bashford and two other community members started the coalition and works closely with its other members to fundraise and facilitate programming.

One of the coalition’s efforts was established through a Rural Champions grant from Kansas Department of Commerce to create “Hope Centers.” These kiosk locations in Elkhart, Richfield and Rolla are a safe, anonymous place people can go to get mental health help.

“Our 988 buildings are something we’re really proud of,” Bashford says. “The kiosks are a place where people can go and get direct access to 988. They just pick up the phone, and they’re automatically connected to someone who wants to help them on the other side.”

The buildings also include a small food pantry, hygiene supplies and opioid overdose treatment.

“These places are more than just buildings or kiosks,” Bashford says. “They represent a dedication of our communities to care for each other and a hope for people who need a little more of it on the extra hard days.”

SILENCE ISN’T STRENGTH

The Community Coalition aims to destigmatize mental health and foster open dialogue through efforts like distributing educational materials and hosting community-wide events focused on suicide prevention and warning signs. By championing mental health advocacy and action, Bashford has noticed a shift in conversations.

“It’s encouraging to see the community come together when we host events,” Bashford says. “Our inaugural Silence Isn’t Strength concert was a great effort where we had a musical performance by a talented former local. We sold T-shirts and had a local counselor on site with a booth. It was a fundraiser for the Community Coalition and an awareness event all in one.”

Bashford leads through connection and collaboration, bringing together schools, churches, civic groups, agricultural organizations, senior centers and statewide partners like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and 988. Her work has provided Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) trainings to equip participants with practical skills to recognize crisis situations, respond effectively and connect individuals to appropriate support.

A CHANGE IN TIDES

Whether it’s from the efforts of Bashford and the Community Coalition or other factors, she says there hasn’t been a loss of life due to suicide for five years in the county.

“Obviously we don’t know whether that’s because of our efforts or if it’s something else,” Bashford admits. “But I don’t care what the reason is, I’m glad the tide has shifted and I’d love for it to stay that way. Forever.”

To learn more about the Morton County Community Coalition, visit www.mortoncountycommunitycoalition.org. If you or someone you know is experiencing a difficult time, please reach out to 988. For other resources and to learn more about mental health initiatives, visit www.kfb.org/ruralmindsmatter. Applications and nominations for the 2027 Rural Minds Matter Advocate of the Year Awards will open in January 2027. 

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