Gov. Evers: State of Mental Health "Burgeoning Crisis"

Gov. Tony Evers tonight, during his 2023 State of the State address, declared 2023 the Year of Mental Health, calling mental and behavioral health a "burgeoning crisis" affecting the state and Wisconsin's kids, families, and workforce. Gov. Evers also announced his 2023-25 executive budget will include approximately $500 million to expand access to mental and behavioral health services across Wisconsin.

In his 2023 State of the State address delivered tonight, Gov. Evers discussed the effects the coronavirus pandemic has had on mental and behavioral health, especially on Wisconsin's kids, calling on the Legislature to take the state's mental and behavioral health crisis seriously:

"...We also have work to do to get our kids caught up from the past few years. We all want to improve outcomes and ensure our kids are prepared for success. And I believe that together we will. And we'll start by making sure our kids can bring their full and best selves to our schools and our classrooms.

"We cannot overstate the profound impact that the past few years have had on our kids in many ways--and that includes their mental health. According to the Office of Children's Mental Health's 2022 Report, about a third of our kids experience feelings of sadness and hopelessness nearly every day--a 10-percent increase over the last decade.

"Kids in crisis are often distracted or disengaged in class, might not be able to finish their homework, and won't be able to focus on their studies at home or at school. Improving student mental health can also improve student learning outcomes and school attendance, while reducing bullying, risky behaviors, violence, involvement in the juvenile justice system, and substance misuse.

"So, over the last year, we doubled our investment in our "Get Kids Ahead" initiative--investing $30 million of our federal pandemic relief funds to provide every Wisconsin public school district with new resources to expand school-based mental health services. Tonight, I'm announcing we're going to make "Get Kids Ahead" a permanent state program, and we're investing more than $270 million to ensure every student has access to mental health services.

"The last few years have affected our kids' mental and behavioral health--and adults' mental health, too. We've seen record-high opioid-related overdose deaths, and Wisconsin's 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline received 6,000 calls just in the first month of its launch this past July.

"The state of mental health in Wisconsin is a quiet, burgeoning crisis that I believe will have catastrophic consequences for generations if we don't treat it with the urgency it requires. Mental and behavioral health is as much a health issue as it is an economic one: it affects kids in the classroom; it affects workers being able to join and stay in our workforce; it affects whether folks are able to stay in safe housing or have economic security; it affects folks' ability to take care of and provide for their family and loved ones.

"So, tonight, I'm declaring 2023 the Year of Mental Health.

"Together with our "Get Kids Ahead" initiative investment, we'll be making an overall investment of about $500 million to expand access to mental and behavioral health services for folks across our state.

"A 2022 report by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute indicated there are 440 people for each mental health provider in Wisconsin. And even before the pandemic, a 2019 report from the Institute indicated that 55 of Wisconsin's 72 counties have significant shortages of psychiatrists. So, we're also going to invest in making sure we have adequate, available mental health professionals who can provide the treatment Wisconsinites need across our state.

"We're going to invest in developing robust prevention strategies to reduce suicide, self-harm, and other mental and behavioral health-related injuries. And that includes state resources to support 988, the new Suicide & Crisis Lifeline--which went live in 2022 thanks to the hard work of our senator, Senator Tammy Baldwin--as well as increased support for peer-run and community-based services across the state.

"We cannot look back two years from now as we prepare the next budget and wonder whether we should've done more and sooner to take good care of our mental health. Let's take this seriously, and let's start today. ..."

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