1 in 10 Wisconsin teens attempted suicide in last 3 years; half deal with depression, anxiety
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One in 10 Wisconsin teenagers has attempted suicide over the last three years. More than one-third of high schoolers feel sad or hopeless. Half of Wisconsin youth have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety or behavioral problems.
At the same time, half of Wisconsin's youth say they have difficulty obtaining mental health services and half of children aged 3 to 17 with mental health conditions received no treatment.
These are just some of the deep concerns raised by the Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health, a state agency within the Department of Health Service, which met with state legislators, stakeholders and members of the media Friday morning. The data are part of the latest annual report from the state agency, which tracks well-being trends and demographics, offers strategies and solutions, and hosts discussions that impact the social connectedness of youth.
Some of the stressors impacting young people, according to research, include academic pressures, widespread gun violence, racism and discrimination (especially with regard to anti-LGBTQ+ policies), political divisiveness, and climate change. And some stressors that more broadly impact families also harm young people, such as the state's lack of child care options, financial insecurity, food insecurity and housing instability.
The goal of the Office of Children's Mental Health report, its director Linda Hall said, is to "take a look at what's happening with kids, to monitor the data around children's well-being and then to work with a broad range of stakeholders to work on improving the children's mental health system."
Speakers Friday included staff from the Office of Children's Mental Health; Rep. Patrick Snyder (R-Schofield) and Rep. Jill Billings (D-La Crosse), co-chairs of the Legislative Children’s Caucus; and student leaders Samera Osman from Reagan High School in Milwaukee and Nathan Zirk from North Crawford High School in Soldiers Grove, a village south of La Crosse.
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