What is new for Northwoods Drifter in 2026
Spring’s finally here in the Northwoods, and the Lincoln County Health Department wants you to spend it with other people. Their Social Connection Challenge isn’t asking for much — just 15 activities with friends, family, or neighbors between now and early June.
It’s a simple idea with serious purpose. One in four Lincoln County adults report frequent loneliness, nearly double the state average, and health officials see the toll it takes.
Kristin Bath, a public health educator with the department, says the challenge grew from conversations about what residents were sharing. “We are seeing more people sharing that they are feeling lonely, lacking belonging, so we wanted to start an initiative that encouraged people to connect with others.”
The challenge offers a menu of 50 activities, from calling an old friend to hosting a backyard cookout. Go on a bike ride with someone. Attend a community event in Merrill or Tomahawk. Help distribute free lunches. The list is flexible by design.
“We have a list of 50 activities with a choice to add your own because it’s not one size fits all,” Bath explains.
Here’s what counts toward your 15 activities:
Complete 15 by June 5, turn in your activity sheet at the health department, and you’re entered to win a $50 gift certificate to spend in Merrill or Tomahawk. Winners get announced June 15.
Our winters are long. Our towns are spread out. And the past few years left a lot of folks more isolated than they’d like to admit.
The data tells a hard story. Suicide remains the leading cause of death for young people ages 10-24 in our region, and Wisconsin’s rural suicide rate runs 40% higher than urban areas. Mental health crisis hotline usage in Wisconsin jumped 25% from 2022 to 2025.
“Some people shared their favorites were calling a friend they haven’t in years, helping distribute free lunches, random acts of kindness. That really shows the personal impacts it had on people and I think that’s the most important part.” — Kristin Bath, Lincoln County Health Department
The connection between loneliness and mental health isn’t just anecdotal. Research shows isolation increases depression risk by 30-50% in rural communities like ours, where geographic distance and limited social infrastructure make casual connection harder.
Lincoln County’s economy — timber, manufacturing, tourism — saw unemployment spike to 8% during the pandemic years. Job uncertainty compounds the isolation, especially during our brutal winters when snowfall averages over 100 inches and getting out requires real effort.
Bath acknowledges many folks already do these activities. The challenge isn’t revolutionary — it’s a reminder.
“Some people do need an extra nudge so we are just trying to reinforce little things we can all do to help our mental health,” she says.
That nudge matters more than you might think. When the health department asks residents to be intentional about connection, it gives people permission to reach out. It normalizes saying “hey, want to grab coffee?” or “let’s take the kayaks out.”
The challenge builds on years of mental health advocacy from Lincoln County Health Department, including billboards addressing youth suicide and promoting the 988 crisis lifeline. They’ve expanded programs like summer health bingo for kids, recognizing that building social habits early protects mental health long-term.
If you’re feeling stuck on where to begin, start small. Text someone you used to see regularly. Show up to the farmers market this weekend. Offer to help a neighbor with yard work.
The beauty of the challenge is that it meets you where you are. You don’t need money for fancy activities. A walk on the Prairie River trail counts. So does sitting on someone’s porch talking while the sun goes down.
Pick up an activity sheet at the Lincoln County Health Department at 678 N Sales Street in Merrill, or check their website for a downloadable version. Track your connections through June 5.
The gift certificate is nice, sure. But Bath says the real prize is what participants discover along the way — that reaching out feels better than staying in, that people are glad you called, that community still exists here if you show up for it.
Mental Health Awareness Month ends when the calendar flips, but the need for connection doesn’t. The challenge runs through early June deliberately — giving folks momentum to carry these habits into summer.
Our region’s challenges aren’t going away. The winters will still be long. The distances between neighbors won’t shrink. But the tools to combat isolation are simpler than we think.
Sometimes it’s a bike ride. Sometimes it’s a phone call. Sometimes it’s just showing up when someone invites you somewhere and saying yes.
Bath hopes the initiative becomes something people return to, a framework for remembering that we’re not meant to do this alone — not up here, not anywhere.
Grab that activity sheet. Pick something easy for this week. Call someone. Show up somewhere. See what happens when you do.
Written by
Mike has been coming up or living in the Northwoods since his childhood. He is also an avid outdoorsman, writer and supper club aficionado.
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