MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Gov. Tony Evers has declared this the year of mental health in Wisconsin, and he says that starts with children.
He’s proposing a significant and permanent expansion of a program that was introduced during the pandemic, but one of our area’s Republican lawmakers says Evers caused the problem he is now trying to fix.
A CDC study released this week shows nearly one of three female high school students seriously considered suicide in 2021. That is up nearly 60% from a decade ago and just one of several alarming statistics Evers referenced in his budget address Wednesday night.
“No one who has the privilege of working in this building, including I, can read these statistics and say with a straight face that we’re already doing enough,” said Evers.
Evers is proposing a $270 million investment over the next two years to make the “Get Kids Ahead” initiative permanent. The program started in the pandemic to develop mental health systems in schools.
Evers says the money will expand access to school-based mental health support to kids in nearly every school district in Wisconsin.
“It’s probably our biggest need whenever I talk to a school district administrator, school board member or educator — it’s mental health help needs of their children,” said Dr. Ashok Rai, President and CEO of Prevea Health.
Rai says what schools are able to provide now is clearly not enough. He isn’t sure what the number is to fix it, but he believes more people trained to deal with the issue is key.
“It starts with supporting our UW System in making sure we’re graduating what we need in mental health workers in the state of Wisconsin and then being able to make sure school districts can afford that labor as well,” said Rai.
Evers’ plan calls for $18 million annually to reimburse schools for hiring social workers, nurses and counselors. Another $585,000 would be put toward mental health training for school staff.
“That is an interesting topic because the reason for the mental health issues is because of his policies that closed schools,” said State Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-30th District. “I don’t know how I feel about that. It’s something that probably has to be addressed, but I don’t think he should be considering himself a champion of that.”
“I think a lot of this has been labeled a post pandemic issue, but we even saw it pre-pandemic,” said Rai. “Definitely heightened during the pandemic, but mental health issues amongst our entire society continue to go up.”
Under Evers’ plan, money would be distributed on a per pupil basis instead of the current format of competitive grants.
Tammy Nicholson, the director of pupil services for the Ashwaubenon School District, tells FOX 11 she’s hearing from parents that it currently takes six to nine months to get a neuro-psych evaluation for a child.
Nicholson says Brown County schools have also made increased efforts to train parents and students on mental health awareness, including with HOPE squads in schools.
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