Where Rodeo Meets Mental Health | Raleigh News

Every Sunday night at Shady Acres Rodeo in North Carolina, young riders find more than adrenaline—they find family. Amid the dust and danger of bull riding, this community becomes a lifeline for those battling mental health struggles, offering belonging where they once felt lost. Organizers Eddy and Sonya Gushlaw have built a space where toughness meets compassion, turning competition into camaraderie. But behind the cheers are heartbreaking losses—several riders died by suicide, sparking a movement to break the silence around mental health in rodeo culture. Enter “Rodeo 22,” a powerful initiative inspired by veteran suicide stats, distributing bracelets with the...