Although the youth mental health crisis is receiving considerable attention, there has been less focus on the mental health of boys and young men.
Mental health problems are reported by an increasing number of high school boys in Wisconsin. Rates of male anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicidal thinking have all increased over time. In 2023, more than a third (36%) of Wisconsin boys reported anxiety and a quarter (25%) reported feeling persistently sad and hopeless. And males are nearly four times as likely to die by suicide compared to females.
What helps? Research suggests that healthy, caring, trusting relationships are the best way to protect boys’ well-being. Positive relationships that model and encourage boys how to be connected, empathetic, and pro-social are key, especially when modeled by an adult male.
To read more about boys’ mental health, the data, and what we can do, see the Fact Sheet.
OCMH issues four Fact Sheets per year on critical children’s mental health topics. See all OCMH’s Fact Sheets here.
|
The uncertainty caused by multiple and sometimes conflicting executive orders from the White House are affecting children’s mental wellness and increasing stress on families and the programs that support them. Colleagues who staff these programs are losing funding, agencies with expertise in the complexities of children mental health are losing staff, halting research, and closing programs. Other organizations anticipate that significant funding cuts are coming soon.
OCMH cannot fix these problems, but will continue to monitor changes that impact an already inadequate children’s mental health system. OCMH will also continue to share the everyday actions and interpersonal strategies that improve well-being in real time. We know that improving youth mental health is critical for young people today and for the future of our state – and we will remain steadfast in our focus on children’s mental health and well-being.
Mark your calendars and plan now to support Children’s Mental Health Week!
Listen. Our focus this Children’s Mental Health Week is simple, but so important – Listen to youth. Everywhere from intentionally inviting their opinions in things that affect them to one-on-one opportunities for conversation and connection. When youth have a say in matters and feel a sense of agency, their mental health and well-being improves. Youth Voice fosters mental well-being because it activates:
- Social skills, interpersonal skills, social competence, and social capital.
- A sense of belonging and connection alongside a sense of agency and autonomy, which improves self-esteem and self-regulation.
- Decision-making skills including persistence and resilience to achieve goals.
Look for more ideas and resources for Children's Mental Health Week from OCMH later this month. Look for new social media posts, messaging on “Listening,” data, and more. We will send a special Children’s Mental Health Week email later in April.
|
The State’s 2025-27 budget is in process. To help sort through it, OCMH has identified priorities from the Governor’s proposed budget to advance children’s well-being and mental health. We share these in our Children’s Mental Health in the 2025-27 State Budget document where we outline four proven and effective ways for Wisconsin to invest in children:
- Prevention that works
- School mental health and psychological safety
- Treatment
- Fairness
Additionally, our budget web page has more information including the Legislative Fiscal Bureau's Summary of Children's Mental Health Priorities and the remaining Joint Finance Committee’s public hearings (April 28th in Hayward and April 29th in Wausau).
The budget process: Governor Evers proposed the most pro-kid budget in state history in February. It included multiple measures to expand access to mental and behavioral health. Now, the Joint Finance Committee is holding public hearings. The Wisconsin Legislature will start budget deliberations soon. They will set aside the Governor’s proposed budget and begin developing their own. After passage by the Legislature, the budget goes to the Governor who may veto portions before signing it. The goal is to have the final budget in place by June 30th, the last day of this fiscal year, or soon thereafter.
|
Showcasing Solutions to Focus on Black and Latino Male Achievement
Complementing our most recent Fact Sheet on Understanding Boys’ Mental Health, we look forward to sharing the story of Black and Latino Male Achievement (BLMA) in Milwaukee Public Schools. BLMA focusses on supports specifically tailored to increase success for Black and Latino males in Milwaukee Public Schools. The new Showcasing Solutions will be available towards the end of April, and will be highlighted in our May Newsletter. Or you can check our Showcasing Solutions web page the last week of April to see it early.
Showcasing Solutions shares stories of innovative and effective children’s mental health initiatives across Wisconsin.
|
Hundreds of Students Gather in Madison to Share Ideas on how to Promote Mental Wellness
OCMH held its second annual Mental Wellness Student Leadership Summit 2025 in Madison on April 11th. The event brought together 400 students and advisors from high school student-led mental wellness programs across Wisconsin schools. “Inspiring” and “motivating” were how students described the day. We’ll share more about what the students shared at the event during Children’s Mental Health Week (May 4-10, 2025).
|
Governor Tony Evers’ Proposed 2025-27 State Budget. AB 50 / SB 45 Governor Evers declared 2025 The Year of the Kid and included in his 2025-27 state budget $300 million and multiple measures to expand access to mental and behavioral health for children and adults. OCMH has identified a number of children’s mental health priorities---beginning with increasing the child tax credit---as especially important to create access to, and sustain provision of, a full array of quality mental health treatment services that Wisconsin’s children need. Our priority list and more on when and how to call attention to children’s mental health is available on our OCMH budget webpage.
Wireless Devices. AB 02 / SB29 Requiring school boards to adopt policies to prohibit the use of wireless communication devices during instructional time. This bill passed the Assembly on a 53-45 partisan vote and passed the Senate Committee on Education by a 4-1 vote on April 11.
Legislative Study Committee on Emergency Detention and Civil Commitment of Minors. The Study Committee’s package of bills was included in our March legislative update. There has been no new activity since.
Health Care Consent by Unaccompanied Minor. AB 049 / SB 70 This bill allows a minor who is an unaccompanied youth age 14 or older to consent to medically necessary care without a parent’s or guardian’s permission under certain circumstances. The bill defines “unaccompanied youth” as a homeless youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian with a local educational agency liaison for homeless children and youths designated under federal law, a school social worker or counselor, an employee who conducts intake at a shelter facility or transitional living program where the minor has been admitted confirming in writing that the minor is an unaccompanied youth. Referred to Assembly Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care which held a hearing on March 12 and voted by paper ballot on March 14. Passed by the Senate Committee on Health on a 5-0 vote.
Gender Transitions. AB-104 Prohibiting gender transition medical intervention for individuals under 18 years of age. On March 20, passed Assembly 50-43 vote. Senate referred to Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development on March 27.
Pronoun Records Policy. AB 103 / SB 120 The bill specifies that a school board’s name and pronoun usage policy must: 1) state that a minor pupil’s parent or legal guardian determines the names and pronouns school staff are allowed use to refer to the minor pupil during school hours and 2) prohibit school staff from referring to a minor pupil by a name or pronoun that does not align with the pupil’s biological sex without written authorization from the pupil’s parent or guardian. On March 20, passed Assembly on a 50-43 vote and was messaged to Senate.
Medical Assistance Extension for Postpartum Women. SB 23 / AB 97 This bill would extend Medical Assistance coverage from 60 days to 12 months for postpartum women. Wisconsin is one of only two states that has not approved 12-month postpartum coverage for new mothers. Uninterrupted health care coverage is important in not only managing pregnancy-related medical complications, but also to maintain critical access to mental health providers for treating postpartum depression, a prescription drug benefit, breastfeeding support, substance use disorder treatment, and to the well-being of their infants. On February 21, the Senate Health Committee voted via paper ballot 5-0 in favor of this bipartisan bill. This bill also passed by 32-1 in the Senate’s last session, but didn’t receive a vote in the Assembly. AB 97 was sent to the Assembly Regulatory Licensing Reform Committee.
Athletic Sports. SB 117 / AB 100 Designating athletic sports and teams, operated or sponsored by public or private schools participating in a parental choice program, based on the sex of the participants. The bill defines “sex” as the sex determined at birth by a physician and reflected on the birth certificate. The bill also requires an educational institution to prohibit a male pupil from 1) participating on an athletic team or in an athletic sport designated for females and 2) using a locker room designated for females. Finally, the bill requires the educational institution to notify pupils and parents if an educational institution intends to change a designation for an athletic team or sport. On March 20, passed Assembly on a 51-43 vote and messaged to Senate which referred it to their Committee on Government Operations, Labor & Economic Development.
College Sports. SB-116 / AB 102 Designating University of Wisconsin and technical college sports and athletic teams based on the sex of the participants. On March 20, passed Assembly on a 50-43 vote and messaged to Senate which referred it to their Committee on Government Operations, Labor & Economic Development.
Detention of Persons unlawfully Present. AB 57 / SB 54. Under this bill, no official, including any law enforcement officer, may aid in the detention of an individual if the individual is being detained in a public building or facility, school, place of worship, place where child care services are provided, or place where medical or other health care services on the sole basis that the individual is, or is alleged to be, unlawfully present in the United States. The potential detention and deportation of parents is creating stress for children, negatively affecting their mental health. Both bills were read and referred to Committee.
April is Family Strengthening Month
April marks Family Strengthening Month in Wisconsin, an annual observance dedicated to highlighting the strengths families draw on to build safe and nurturing environments for children. Governor Evers’ proclamation of 2025 as the “Year of the Kid” reinforces a statewide commitment to bolstering youth mental health, supporting the childcare industry, and prioritizing the well-being of children and families.
Family Strengthening Month provides communities, organizations, and individuals with resources and activities to show their commitment to children and families in April and throughout the year. This year’s toolkit offers a wealth of ideas to inspire action and raise awareness. Access the tools:
|
April is National Stress Awareness Month
April provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the causes and effects of stress and to promote stress management, self-care, and relaxation techniques. Learn more:
OCMH learned at its Mental Wellness Student Leadership Summit that a number of schools hold Shred the Stress events. At these events, students write on a piece of paper what is stressing them out and then toss the paper into a shredder.
PATCH Accepting Applications for Teen Educator and Teen Consultants
PATCH (Providers And Teens Communicating for Health) is accepting applications for its 2025-2026 Teen Educator and Teen Consultant programs. Teen Educators and Teen Consultants are high school students who use their voice to advocate for change with their community and health care systems. Learn more about PATCH. Apply here.
|
Child Care Programs at Risk of Closing
A new survey announced by Gov. Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families finds a quarter of child care programs are likely to close if the Wisconsin Legislature fails to make critical investments to continue the Child Care Counts program. The program is set to expire at the end of June. Additionally, if the program ends, costs for infant care are expected to rise – three-quarters of providers expect to raise weekly tuition rates for care. Learn more.
2025-26 Student AODA Mini Grants
The Department of Public Instruction announces the 2025-26 Student Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) Mini Grant competition. A primary funding priority of the mini grant program is the involvement of youth in the planning and implementation of the project. Grants are $1,000, and applications are due May 14, 2025, 4 pm. Learn more.
Enhancing Social and Emotional Skills in Students with IEPs (ES3) Three Year Grant Application
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is accepting applications for the Enhancing Social and Emotional Skills in Students with IEPs (ES3) Three Year Grants. The goal of this grant is to provide public school districts (LEAs) with the structures and processes to identify and support the beliefs, skills, and systems needed to improve academic and functional outcomes for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Application and additional information may be found on the Wisconsin DPI Autism, Emotional Behavioral Disability, and Other Health Impairment web pages. Applications are due April 25, 2025.
|
