One factor thought to contribute to the underutilization of mental health services, especially among rural Americans, is the stigma attached to mental illness and the associated help seeking process. This study investigated the effects of an instructional unit on mental illness and related issues on rural adolescents' concept of mental illness and their attitudes about seeking professional help for emotional problems. A total of 40 students enrolled in a rural high school were chosen as participants. Twenty were designated as the treatment group and 20 served as the control group. Survey instruments were administered to gather data on 2 dependent variables: (1) participants' concepts of mental illness; and (2) participants' attitudes toward seeking psychological help. Results indicated that changes in both variables were significant, and furthermore, that these changes did not decrease significantly when tested again 12 weeks later. These results are discussed in the context of educating rural youth about mental illness with the express purpose of removing the stigma associated with the help seeking process. (Contains 16 references and 1 table.) (Author/RB)