A few good things in life are, in fact, free. Unfortunately in Natchez, a real gift — one that could be a matter of life and death — is not being accepted by the people who could benefit from the gift the most.

Months ago the Clinton Health Matters Initiative announced Natchez as one of a handful of sites where the program would bankroll programs aimed at improving the health of our area’s citizens.

We’ve all seen the numbers.

Mississippians are among the least healthy residents in the United States. So the focus of improving health found a good spot in southwest Mississippi.

For a small group of people who have participated in some of the programs, the results have been life-changing.

Sadly, though, the initiative’s leaders say their biggest hurdle has been in convincing people to participate.

Participation has been less than anticipated, which has program coordinators worried.

The challenge facing the initiative’s leaders is: How do you convince someone to come to a program to help themselves when the person doesn’t believe they need help?

That’s the challenge facing many, many Mississippians. We know our flaws; we simply are reluctant to change.

Unless we do, we’re going to collectively get more and more unhealthy. Please encourage anyone who may benefit from one of the initiative’s programs to sign up. It could be the difference between long life and quick death.