MADISON — The Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health (OCMH) is inviting families, schools, and organizations across the state to participate in recognition during Child Mental Health Week, May 5-11, 2024. This year, OCMH released new resources inspired by higher education in Wisconsin. students at school.
“We recognize that young people are the experts in youth mental health and are publishing recommendations and insights provided by high school leaders who are committed to supporting mental health,” said OCMH Director Linda Hall.
OCMH has summarized its recommendations in the following document:
● Wisconsin Youth Mental Health Coping Strategies and Coping Strategies Quotes highlight creative ways teens deal with feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
● Youth Advice to Other Youth expands the power of peer support by increasing the memories teens want to share with each other.
● What Youth Want Adults to Know is a collection of messages from Wisconsin teens to parents, youth service professionals, and decision makers.
These new resources are compiled from submissions shared at the Mental Wellness Student Leadership Summit hosted by OCMH in April 2024 and provide important ways for youth and adults to connect. These messages are important because research shows that elevating young people’s voices is central to improving their well-being.
In addition to considering these messages to youth, OCMH is encouraging individuals and organizations across the state to improve their children’s mental health by using one or more of the tools available on the OCMH Children’s Mental Health Week 2024 webpage. We encourage you to take action.
“Talk to the children you see in your daily life. Reach out and ask how they are doing. Listen to their answers. The simple act of getting young people to talk about their lives and how they are feeling. is one of the best ways to connect with young people,” suggests Hall.
Key facts about the state of youth mental health in Wisconsin show that many children are struggling.
● More than half (52%) report anxiety.
● Almost half (48%) of LGBTQ children say they have seriously considered suicide. One in four female girlfriends (25%) seriously considered suicide.
● More than a third (34%) report feeling sad and hopeless most days.
“Every week, and especially during Child Mental Health Week, everyone needs to listen and connect with Wisconsin’s youth, because youth feel better when they feel heard. ,” Hall said.
For more information, see the Office of Children’s Mental Health’s 2023 Annual Report.
