OCMH Senior Research Analyst Amy Marsman spotlights recent articles, resources, and research findings impacting youth mental health.
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988 Wisconsin Lifeline: No Judgement, Just Support
As part of an ongoing media campaign to promote the 988 Wisconsin Lifeline, DHS released updated campaign materials. The “No Judgement, Just Support” promotional tools are available to anyone to use in their community. There are youth specific posters, as well as fact sheets, videos, and social media posts.
A reminder that the 988 data dashboard is updated monthly to offer insights on the impact of 988 in Wisconsin. See data for calls, texts and chats, and demographics. Data points include county-level data, top reasons for contacting 988, and percentage of contacts resolved with the 988 counselor and no need for outside intervention.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2025 KIDS COUNT® Data Book has been released with the latest state and national data on child and young adult well-being. There are a total of 16 indicators capturing what children and youth need most across four domains: Economic Well-Being; Education; Health; and Family/Community. Since a child's future success often depends on where they grow up, rankings are also provided. Wisconsin ranks 11th in the nation for overall child well-being and 25th for health. Kids Forward highlights the stark disparities between Black and white children in Wisconsin, including the largest disparity in the nation for low birthweight, high school graduation, and math proficiency. Wisconsin also has the second largest Black-white disparities in the nation for child deaths, families living with high housing cost burden, and children living in high poverty areas.
On Track for Kindergarten?
Entering kindergarten healthy and ready to learn (HRTL) is critical for a child’s future. A new analysis from Child Trends, using data from the National Survey of Children’s Health, estimates the percentage of 3-year-olds who are HRTL according to multiple domains of development: early learning, social-emotional, self-regulation, motor skills, and physical health. According to the data, nearly 72% of children in Wisconsin are on track for kindergarten. Nationwide, 64% of children are considered healthy and ready to learn.
Research Opportunity: Wisconsin Study Looking for Participants
Bridge for Children (https://www.bridgeforchildren.org/), a research study at UW–Madison that is examining how early childhood educators support justice-impacted children in their classrooms. These include children whose parents have been incarcerated, detained, deported, or placed under legal supervision such as probation or parole. Justice-impacted children often face emotional, social, and academic difficulties that require compassionate, informed support from educators. However, there is limited research on how teachers currently navigate these challenges or what tools they need to feel more prepared. The researchers are looking for participants to interview. Through interviews with teachers, the study will explore classroom experiences and strategies; understand common challenges and support needs; identify gaps in school-based support systems; and inform the development of independent learning materials for educators. Early childhood educators who have taught a justice-impacted child are encouraged to reach out: contact@bridgeforchildren.org
Access to Mental Health Care for Black and Latino Teens
Anxiety and depression are common mental disorders among children, and their prevalence has increased in recent years. Unfortunately, some children do not have access to mental health care. Black and Latino children have been reported to be more likely to have unmet mental health care needs than other racial or ethnic groups. This qualitative study sought to identify the influential factors in accessing mental health care for Black and Latino teens with anxiety or depression in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and identify recommendations to improve access for this group. Ten key informant interviews were conducted between February 2022 and January 2023 and analyzed using thematic analysis as the research approach. Recommendations for public health policy and practice to increase access for these groups are discussed.
Intersections Between Trauma and Discrimination in Youth of Color Seeking Mental Health Services
This study explores the intersection between trauma and discrimination among Black and Hispanic youth seeking treatment. The study examines the following: (1) the frequency of various everyday discrimination experiences; (2) unique associations between exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and everyday discrimination experiences; and (3) unique associations between everyday discrimination experiences and specific posttraumatic stress symptoms while accounting for demographic characteristics and PTEs. The researchers found that 2/3 of trauma-exposed youth reported having experienced discrimination with the most common experience being treated as not smart (46%) followed by being treated with less courtesy or respect (40%).
Child Mind Report: Mental Health Support for Black Families
A new study conducted by the Child Mind Institute in partnership with The Steve Fund explores the views and experiences of Black parents seeking mental health care for their children and young Black adults seeking care for themselves and identify key barriers to care. The study includes a comprehensive literature review and a nationally representative survey of 1,000 Black parents and 500 Black young adults.
In recent years, efforts to raise awareness and destigmatize mental health challenges within the Black community have encouraged more Black families and young adults to seek care. But Black youth and their families continue to face a multitude of barriers when attempting to access mental health information and care. At the same time, quantitative research focusing on Black youth mental health is limited. The report, an executive summary, and literature review are available to download on the Child Mind website.
A new Child Trends analysis has found a decrease in the rate of U.S. foster care entries, from 3.5 per 1,000 children entering care in 2018 to 2.9 per 1,000 children entering care in 2021. The Family First Prevention Services Act was passed in 2018, increasing the child welfare system’s focus on preventing child welfare involvement and keeping families together. The decrease in the rate of foster care entries may reflect families receiving more prevention services, resulting in fewer children being separated from their parents or other caregivers.
Child Trends experts have compiled these data and other child welfare indicators in the Child Welfare Data Interactive, a data tool that allows users to examine state and national child welfare data on entries into foster care, child maltreatment, kinship caregiving, permanency, and older youth in foster care. Data are updated annually upon release of the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS). Currently, federal fiscal year 2021 is the most recent year of available AFCARS data.
1 in 3 Wisconsin Households Facing Financial Hardship
ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, and represents the growing number of families who are unable to afford the basics of housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and technology. Though working, these workers struggle to keep their households afloat financially. The 2025 State of ALICE in Wisconsin report shows an estimated 35% of households in Wisconsin were below the ALICE Threshold in 2023. In the Fall, it was reported that half of U.S. children were living in financial hardship. Research has consistently linked poverty and the stress that comes from financial hardship to mental health concerns in children. The Wisconsin report includes recommendations and resources.
Youth Gun Deaths Rise in States that Relaxed Laws
Guns are the leading cause of death for youth in the United States. Researchers from Mass General Brigham investigated whether firearm mortality rates among U.S. children ages 0-17 changed in the years since a 2010 Supreme Court ruling that applied the Second Amendment to state and local governments. In states with the most permissive firearm laws, the study found 7,400 more pediatric deaths due to firearms than would have been expected. Children's deaths by both homicide and suicide rose in the states that had the most permissive firearm laws, and disproportionately impacted children of color. Rates remained unchanged or decreased in states with more strict laws. These results demonstrate that permissive firearm laws contributed to thousands of excess firearm deaths among children and that strict laws play a critical role in preventing youth deaths.
Investing in the Future: How Better Mental Health Benefits Everyone
The McKinsey Health Institute released a report that concluded investing in mental health interventions could help individuals reclaim years of healthy life, have an economic return of $5-$6 for every $1 invested, and boost the global economy by up to $4.4 trillion in 2050. The report includes a focus on the ‘brain economy’ that recognizes cognitive, emotional, and social capabilities as critical assets for individuals navigating an increasingly complex and knowledge-driven world. Understanding the brain skills – cognitive, emotional, and social abilities such as analytical thinking, adaptability, creativity, and empathy – that drive productivity and innovation in the modern workforce, the authors advocate for scaling up known, cost-effective interventions to prevent, treat, and help people recover from mental health conditions.
Pew Research Report on Teens, Social Media, and Mental Health
Most teens (74%) credit social media with feeling more connected to friends. Still, roughly 1 in 5 (22%) say social media sites hurt their mental health, and nearly half (48%) think social media negatively effects people their age, up from 32% in 2022. Many teens (45%) say they spend too much time on social media, up from 36% in 2022. Half (50%) of girls say their social media experiences affect their sleep. A third (34%) of teens say they at least sometimes get information about mental health on social media. These findings are based on a survey of U.S. teens ages 13-17 and their parents in Fall 2024.
Teen Snapshot: Media Teens & Young Adults Use in Times of Stress
The Center for Scholars & Storytellers released a Teen Research Snapshot, which explores the types of media teens and young adults turn to during stressful and uncertain times. The research reveals that young people continue seeking traditional and emerging media for entertainment, meaning making, comfort, and belonging during challenging times. Among the takeaways:
- Gen Z still turns to movies and TV shows in times of high stress, with almost half (47.2%) saying they’re most excited about upcoming releases in these categories.
- Young people — especially males and non-binary folks — go to gaming for community and stress relief.
The Scrolls and Tolls of Modern Childhood
The National Research Group released a report, Growing Pains: the scrolls and tolls of modern childhood, exploring how Gen Alpha is redefining what it means to be a kid in 2025. Using an archive of over 7,000 kids’ stories and a nationwide survey of 1,500 kids and teens, the study highlights how young people are using technology to connect, express themselves, and push back on the narratives they’ve inherited. The authors advocate for telling more grounded and hopeful stories about growing up.
Wisconsin Could Join Call for Change on Cell Phones in Schools
As the Wisconsin Policy Forum reports, many states have adopted or are considering statewide measures to restrict student cell phone use at school, citing threats to students’ class time concentration, ability to learn academic content, and mental health. In a growing number of states, policymakers have eschewed a patchwork of school policies in favor of a uniform statewide restriction or policy regarding cell phone use in schools, or at minimum, a baseline policy recommendation.
According to data collected by the Kaiser Family Foundation, through April 30, 2025, 35 states have taken action on this topic. In Wisconsin a proposal to change the current patchwork approach by enacting a statewide ban on students using cell phones during instructional time in public school districts passed the Assembly on a 53 to 45 vote and was recommended by the Senate Education Committee on a 4 to 1 vote, but has not been acted upon by the full Senate as of June 11, 2025. Under the proposed bill, schools and districts still would be permitted to enact more restrictive policies. There would be limited exceptions, such as during an emergency or to manage a student’s health care.
Mental Health Diagnoses and Access to Care Among LGBTQ+ Young People
Nearly two-thirds (65%) of participants reported having at least one mental health diagnosis in the latest research from The Trevor Project. The most commonly reported were anxiety disorders (47%), major depressive disorder (33%), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (30%). The research also found that the mental health care needs among LGBTQ+ youth extend beyond those with a formal diagnosis: while 89% of diagnosed youth wanted mental health care, 76% of undiagnosed youth also reported wanting mental health care.
Trends in Mental Health Diagnoses Among Publicly Insured Children
Children living in poverty are at increased risk of mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders. Yet little is known about the trends in diagnoses of these disorders among children enrolled in public insurance programs, such as Medicaid, which insure more than 1 in 3 U.S. children. Using claims data from 22 states, this observational study found that the percentage of publicly insured children diagnosed with any mental health or neurodevelopmental disorder increased from 10.7% in 2010 to 16.5% in 2019. Statistically significant increases were observed in 9 of 13 specific diagnostic categories. These findings highlight the need for access to appropriate services in safety net systems and other settings that serve this substantial child population.
Fractured Futures: New Data Reveals Where Youth Mental Health Is Breaking and How Medicaid Cuts Could Make It Worse
According to Surgo Health, young people across the U.S. are navigating a mental health system on the brink and in three out of four congressional districts, the odds are growing against them. Surgo Health released its first report, Fractured Futures: ThriveAtlas™ Maps the Risk to Youth Mental Health Amid Looming Medicaid Cuts. The ThriveAtlas is a platform that maps the upstream factors shaping youth mental health and wellbeing. ThriveAtlas captures the structural and social barriers that often go unseen – from trauma exposure and economic hardship to provider shortages and social disconnection – and serves as a map of where the youth mental health crisis is most severe, why young people are falling behind, and the policy levers that could help them thrive.
Read the reports, explore their recently launched Youth Mental Health Tracker, Policy Playbook, and a methodological one-pager.
Drug Overdose Deaths in Wisconsin Dropped 36% Last Year
As summarized last month, preliminary data on overdose deaths in the U.S. reveals a 27% decline, a significant drop and the largest one-year decline ever recorded. This translates to a reported 30,000 fewer overdose deaths in 2024 compared to the prior year. The CDC has been collecting comparable data for 45 years. The previous largest one-year drop was 4% in 2018.
Now, state level data from the CDC are available showing large reductions for Wisconsin with the state overdose death rate declining 36%. Wisconsin had 1,115 reported drug overdose deaths at the end of 2024, compared to 1,744 reported cases at the end of 2023, the CDC reports. The agency notes U.S and state figures are preliminary and underreported due to incomplete data.
Wisconsin Leads the Nation in Drug Takeback
The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Wisconsin ranked number one throughout the country for the most prescription medications collected during the Spring 2025 Drug Take Back collection. Wisconsin collected 56,818 lbs. of unwanted medications this spring. Wisconsin ranked third in the nation for the most medications collected since Drug Take Back inception in 2010, behind only Texas and California. DOJ partners with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to organize and promote Drug Take Back throughout Wisconsin. Drug Take Back provides a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the community about the potential abuse and consequences of improper storage and disposal of these medications.
One in Four Children Have a Parent with Substance Use Disorder
Nearly 19 million U.S. children have at least one parent with a substance use disorder, according to a new study published JAMA Pediatrics. A significant number of those children have a parent whose addiction is moderate or severe as opposed to mild, the study finds. Reporting notes that the new study used data from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a federal survey that estimated the prevalence of substance use and mental health disorders based on the most updated criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5). The study's main finding is significantly higher than previous estimates (7 million in a study originally published in 2022), which had relied on diagnostic criteria from the DSM-IV.
Wisconsin Underage Tobacco and Vape Sales Decreased in 2024
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) reported a decrease in sales of tobacco and vape products to underage consumers last year. Annual data shows a decline from 13.6% in 2023 to 11.8% in 2024. These results come from the Synar Survey, an annual statewide assessment of the retailer violation rate. In 2019, the rate was 5.5% and reached its highest point in 2021 when the rate was 14.1%. DHS health leaders noted that more than 80% of adult smokers begin before the age of 18 and 95% before age 21, emphasizing the need to focus on prevention for youth.
State Strategies, Youth Advisory Council, and School-Based Screenings
As part of the 2024 Policy Academy to Drive Thriving Youth Mental Health, the National Governors Association supported the development of a Youth Advisory Council where the six state teams selected youth advisors to work alongside state staff to drive change. This commentary features the research and writing of one of the youth advisors with a focus on school-based screenings.
Related, a new report on youth engagement is also available: Of the Youth, For the Youth, By the Youth: A Governor’s Guide for Incorporating Youth Voice into Policymaking.
Cost-Effectiveness of Universal Routine Depression Screening for Adolescents in Primary Care
New research from the Colorado School of Public Health examines a practical, cost-effective intervention—routine depression screenings during teens’ regular doctor visits. In 2021, leading pediatric organizations declared a national emergency in children’s mental health, prompting recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) for systemic solutions like routine depression screenings during adolescent well-visits. By implementing these, healthcare systems can shift from reactive to preventive care—catching symptoms early, offering timely treatment, and avoiding costly hospitalizations and emergency interventions.
The study highlights that cost-effectiveness is amplified when screenings are paired with integrated care models that make mental health treatment more accessible and effective. The analysis also shows that targeted universal depression screening was more cost effective among girls and Hispanic and Latina or multiracial patients.
Trends from MHA's 2024 National Screening and Prevention Program
In 2014, Mental Health America (MHA) created the Online Screening Program, a collection of 11 free, anonymous, confidential, and clinically validated screens that are among the most commonly used mental health screening tools in clinical settings. Since its launch, over 31 million people have taken a screen to check their mental health concerns online, making this program the nation’s largest ongoing, real-time mental health early identification program.
In 2024, the program reached more than 5.9 million individuals seeking mental health screening. Historically, 90% of screeners were from the U.S., but over the past three years, the reach has expanded quickly among international screeners. This report is an analysis of responses from the 1,728,957 screens taken by those who self-reported living in the U.S. The age breakdown shows 64% of the U.S. screeners were taken by youth ages 8-24.
Younger Men in the U.S. Among the Loneliest
Gallup international survey data reveal that younger men in the U.S. are more likely than other Americans — and their peers in other wealthy nations — to report feeling lonely. Based on aggregated data from 2023 and 2024, 25% of U.S. men aged 15 to 34 said they felt lonely a lot of the previous day, significantly higher than the national average of 18% and the total for young women (also 18%). Younger U.S. men are also more likely to feel lonely than their counterparts across the 38 mostly higher-income, democratic countries in the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development). Additionally, more than half (57%) of younger men in the U.S. say they feel stressed on a daily basis, more than the rest of the country and more than the other OECD countries.
Loneliness in America 2025 Report
Since establishing the U.S. Loneliness Index in 2018, The Cigna Group has taken the lead in measuring the impact of loneliness in America. Their recently released, Loneliness in America 2025: A pervasive struggle requires a communal response, finds that Gen Z (67%) young adults are much more likely to report loneliness than Baby Boomers (44%). The report focuses on caregivers as well as workplace impacts and the authors make the case for communal strategies that address loneliness. A video summary is available.
Social connection or loneliness? How we frame the issue may significantly impact public policy.
Julia Holt-Lunstad, a leading researcher on social connectedness and loneliness, argues in a new article that focusing on social connection rather than isolating loneliness as a public health issue might be more effective.
Increasing public concerns about loneliness have led to a surge in scientific research, advocacy, and governmental attention. National strategies are being considered, legislation is introduced, and some countries have even appointed political positions dedicated to addressing loneliness. The evidence points to several markers of degree of social connection, all independently predicting health. Loneliness is among these predictors of health outcomes but not the strongest. Thus, the author finds evidence does not support prioritizing an overly narrow approach to public health policy, national measurement, clinical assessments, or solutions on loneliness alone.
Telemental Health for U.S. Kids: Challenges and Opportunities
A new review of the 2021 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data on telemental health care in the U.S. addresses patterns of outpatient mental health care using video, phone, or in-person visits for youth ages 6–17 years from 2,445 families. Findings indicated that 31% of child and adolescent mental health outpatients received at least one video visit. Those who had received any video visits were more likely to be girls, live in urban areas, come from higher income backgrounds, and have private insurance.
Other results show 13% of U.S. youths received any mental health care in 2021, including 52.7% who received all their care from mental health specialists, and 47.9% who received at least one mental health visit from a non-mental health provider. Authors highlighted that nearly half of mental health assessment/treatment was provided by non-mental health or general pediatric practitioners.
The Post-Pandemic State of Youth Justice in Milwaukee County
The Wisconsin Policy Forum recently focused on youth justice in Milwaukee County. Authors note there has been a remarkable transformation in how the youth justice system is addressing youth who have been deemed by judges to need secure detention. The average daily population of Milwaukee County youth housed at state-run juvenile corrections institutions has shrunk over the past decade from a budgeted 146 in 2014 to 28 in 2024. Meanwhile, the county has placed increased emphasis on supporting community-based programs for youth who come into contact with the system. The report explores the outcomes related to this transformation, which has saved the county millions of dollars in annual corrections payments to the state.
Related, a new dashboard is available to families, policymakers, and the public on Milwaukee County youths in secure care, which includes both county-run detention centers and state-run juvenile correctional facilities. Providing real-time data, the county’s Youth in Our Care dashboard currently shows there are more than 100 youth detained.
OCMH Research and Data Resources
Key Facts in Youth Mental Health: https://children.wi.gov/Pages/ResearchData/KeyFacts.aspx
Fact Sheets: https://children.wi.gov/Pages/ResearchData/FactSheets.aspx
Data Sources: https://children.wi.gov/Pages/Resources/DataSources.aspx
Research News in Youth Mental Health: https://children.wi.gov/Pages/OCMHNewsletters.aspx
Youth Mental Health Initiatives: https://children.wi.gov/Pages/Resources/ChildrensInitiatives.aspx
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