New campaign is changing the conversation on mental health in McKenzie County
M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer
In the rural stretches of McKenzie County, where the winters are long, and neighbors can be miles apart, talking about mental health hasn’t always been easy. But a new, award-winning initiative from the Upper Missouri District Health Unit (UMDHU) is proving that a little bit of art and a lot of heart can go a long way in breaking the silence. The UMDHU was recently honored with the 2025 CredibleMind Mental Wellbeing Award for “Empowering Action Through Communication.” While the title sounds official, the project itself is deeply personal.
Rather than using clinical posters or dry medical advice, the health unit teamed up with local artist Onesti Krieger and Odney Advertising to try something different. They used Krieger’s abstract paintings, specifically pieces inspired by her own journey with seasonal depression, as the face of their outreach.
If you’ve been out and about lately, you might have seen them. By placing these beautiful, human-centric ads throughout the community, the UMDHU saw a staggering 150 percent increase in local residents seeking out mental health resources online.
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