OCMH Senior Research Analyst Amy Marsman spotlights recent articles, resources, and research findings impacting youth mental health.
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Afterschool in Wisconsin Programs in Demand, But Out of Reach for Most
The Afterschool Alliance released America After 3PM, a national online survey on issues related to afterschool care, which found that demand for afterschool programs in the state is enormous. According to the Wisconsin fact sheet, 4 in 5 Wisconsin children are missing out on afterschool programs. For more on the impact of extracurriculars and youth mental health, see OCMH fact sheet.
State-level Data Visualization on Child Welfare in the U.S.
Child Trends has updated a comprehensive child welfare data interactive with 2022 and 2023 national and state data on foster care, relative caregiving, permanency, and older youth. The tool provides information on national trends and profiles for all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico. The data show that from 2016 to 2023, the number of children entering foster care in the U.S. decreased by 36%. This continuous seven-year decrease is likely due, in part, to shifts in policy and practice aimed at preventing unnecessary foster care entries. Further, the data reveal that while the number of children who were maltreated has declined in recent years, 21% of child maltreatment in the Wisconsin is due to sexual abuse, twice the rate of the nation.
Impact of Child Access Prevention Laws on Rates of Youth Suicide
State policies may reduce youth suicide and other firearm death rates by limiting access to firearms. This study examined the impact of child access prevention (CAP) laws on rates of youth firearm suicide mortality. Using national mortality data from 1990 through 2020, the 30-year analysis found CAP firearm storage laws were associated with significant reductions in youth firearm suicide mortality. There were small-to-medium effects for their overall CAP presence and medium-to-large effects for specific aspects of storage requirements.
In other words, laws that require families to store firearms unloaded and secured in a locking device appear to effectively prevent youth suicide deaths as well as firearm-related youth deaths by accident and homicide. The results highlight the importance of policy level interventions in improving youth mental health outcomes.
Lack of Sleep Linked to Increased Suicide Risk
Teenagers who don’t get enough sleep on school nights or have interrupted sleep are at greater risk of suicide, new research has found. The findings are from a new longitudinal birth cohort study that shows how disrupted sleep at age 14 increases suicide risk at age 17.
Rising Rates of Suicide Among Asian American Youth
The suicide rate for Asian American youth doubled between 1999 and 2021. Suicide was the leading cause of death for Asian Americans ages 10-19 in 2021 and in 2022 for Asian Americans ages 15-24. Asian American youth who need support for their mental health face unique challenges. Cultural factors and entrenched stigma as well as under-representation in suicide research are among the biggest challenges. Learn more about Addressing Asian American Youth Suicide, and Wisconsin resources for Hmong youth – our state’s largest Asian population – in a new OCMH resource. Available in English and Hmong.
5-Year Wisconsin Suicide Prevention Plan: Interactive Web Version Available
Suicide is a significant public health problem in Wisconsin and behind every death is a tremendous loss, with profound impact on individuals, families, and communities. The recently released Wisconsin Suicide Prevention Plan, now available in an interactive web version, shows that suicide rates in Wisconsin increased by 15% between 2014 and 2023. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth 5-25 years old.
Wisconsin's Suicide Prevention Plan is designed to increase the effectiveness of suicide prevention efforts by providing statewide data along with best practices, resources, and recommended action steps – in short, to generate hope through action.
Early Relational Health, a National Academies Report
Early relationships are foundational for lifelong health, learning, and well-being. Mutual, meaningful, and affirming moments of connection in the youngest relationships nurture resilience, support brain development, and foster pathways for thriving families and communities. A new report from the National Academies’ Board on Children, Youth, and Families provides actionable guidance for advancing early relational health. The report establishes that relationships are a biological need and that the 0-3 years is a sensitive early life period for developing relational capacity. An overview of research needed along with strategy highlights are also provided.
Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Helps Kids and Caregivers
The Urban Institute is exploring early childhood mental health consultation, a nationally recognized, evidence-based intervention designed to address behavioral and mental health challenges in our youngest children. It pairs child care providers with an expert consultant who visits their care settings and equips them with the skills and knowledge to nurture positive relationships and respond effectively to children’s emotional and behavioral needs. For children and families, these services can reduce behavioral concerns, lower the risk of suspension or expulsion, and promote warm and consistent child care experiences. Learn more about one state’s experience and findings, insights from child care providers, and insights from consultative professionals.
Child Poverty Increases More Than 2.5 Times Since 2021
Child poverty in the U.S. has surged, nearly tripling from 5% in 2021 to 13% in 2024. This dramatic increase follows the expiration of pandemic-era economic policies and rising prices that have strained family budgets nationwide. A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, “Measuring Access to Opportunity in the United States: A 10-Year Update,” underscores the profound impact of public policies and programs, demonstrating their capacity to cut child poverty in half. Public policies/programs such as the earned income tax credit (EITC), child tax credit (CTC), SNAP, Social Security, and housing subsidies are proven policies that keep children out of poverty.
Fewer Children are in Foster Care, but Finding Homes Remains Challenging
In recent years there has been a reduction in foster care placements thanks to increased family/kinship care in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Policy Forum reports that though the number of children being removed from their homes is decreasing, the foster care system itself is under strain. Advocates say the problem isn’t strictly a shortage of foster homes, but a mismatch between the needs of many children entering care and the level of support, training, and resources that foster families have to provide what’s needed. Few feel equipped enough or are willing to take on teens and children coping with trauma, behavioral health challenges, or emotional dysregulation, according to foster care advocates.
State of the World’s Emotional Health
Gallup’s report, State of the World’s Emotional Health 2025, is based on 145,000 interviews across 144 countries and areas. It investigates the links between emotions, peace, and health and was released in partnership with the World Health Summit. The analysis explores the connection between peace and emotional well-being.
Home Visiting on Track to Provide 1 Million Home Visits in 2025
The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program helps pregnant women and parents of young children improve health and well-being for themselves and their families by partnering with trained home visitors. Home visitors typically screen children for developmental delays and screen mothers for symptoms that could indicate they are suffering from depression. They also help connect families to other community services. Extensive research has shown that home visiting programs improve outcomes for both children and parents. According to Child Trends, the number of home visits in the U.S. are increasing year over year and are expected to surpass 1 million in fiscal year 2025.
Increase in Developmental Screenings through Home Visiting Programs
More young children are now being screened for developmental delays during home visits funded than in prior years. Child Trends reported on data from the MIECHV Outcomes Dashboard showing 78% of enrolled children received an age-appropriate developmental screening in 2024, up from 69% in 2017. These far exceed the 36% of children who complete developmental screenings nationally. There has also been an increase in maternal depression screenings in home visiting programs: 81% of enrolled mothers (in both WI and the US) received depression screenings within three months, up from 75%.
Cell Phone Ban Reduced Absences and Significantly Boosted Test Scores
A recent story highlighted how disciplinary issues initially spiked as schools worked to enforce the new rule district cell phone ban. By the second year, however, suspension rates returned to normal and test scores rose significantly, according to a new study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. According to the researchers, student scores in the school district notably increased by "about 2-3 percentiles" in the second year of the ban compared to year before. The study, which is not peer-reviewed, also noted a decline in unexcused absences, which researchers say may have contributed to the higher academic performance.
Landscape of School-Based Mental Health Services
Nearly one in five students attending public schools in the U.S. utilize school-based mental health services, and 97% of schools provide at least one mental health service, underscoring how schools can serve as a major access point for youth mental health care. This KFF issue brief explores the landscape of mental health services, including services offered, utilization, barriers, and funding, and how recent federal actions may affect school-based mental health care. The analysis draws upon survey data collected directly from public school administrators via the School Pulse Panel, a study by the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau, that surveys schools monthly on a variety of topics, including school mental health services.
Social Emotional Learning Improves Academic Outcomes
The Hechinger Report highlights a recent study on school-based social and emotional learning (SEL) programs. SEL is designed to provide structured learning opportunities for all students during regular school time to advance their social, emotional, and academic development. The study, a systematic review and meta-analysis, reviewed 40 empirical studies conducted between 2008 and 2020 and explored the effect of SEL programs on students’ academic achievement across grades 1-12.
Findings reveal that students who participated in universal school-based SEL programs demonstrated better academic achievement compared to those who did not participate. Analyses further confirmed that student standardized test scores and grade point averages are improved by participating in SEL programs and that student test scores are the most proximal and accurate estimate of the effects of an SEL program on student achievement. Furthermore, the significantly improved achievement was in both literacy and math, suggesting the impact of SEL across academic domains.
Wisconsin Safe and Healthy Schools Center Annual Report
The Wisconsin Safe and Healthy Schools Center (WISH), a collaborative partner with state agencies, provides comprehensive training and technical assistance to schools on school mental health issues. Their annual report shows the reach of Youth Mental Health First Aid, suicide prevention trainings, and compassion resilience trainings along with other measures of impact.
Widespread Support for Banning Kids Under Age 14 from Social Media
The Ipsos Education Monitor explores how people across 30 countries feel about young people, schools, and technology. An average of 71% across 30 countries believe children under age 14 should not be able to access social media, and 74% of school-age parents feel the same. The research finds a majority of people in all 30 countries back minimum age controls for social media. Mental health was rated the top challenge for young people.
Further, 8 in 10 parents and youth place loneliness and social isolation among their top 3 concerns for youth mental health — making it the most widely recognized threat across generations.
Kids who use social media score lower on reading and memory tests
Studies of the link between total screen time and cognitive performance in tweens from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study have shown mixed results. However, unlike passive screen time, social media use typically involves interactive, personalized, and cognitively demanding activities, yet there is a paucity of studies that have analyzed the associations between distinct longitudinal social media usage patterns and multiple domains of cognitive functioning. This study examined the relationship between longitudinal patterns of social media use and cognitive performance two years later in a diverse, national sample of early adolescents. The study found greater social media use was associated with lower cognitive performance.
Survey Results on How Parents Manage Screen Time for Kids
From YouTube to smartphones to tablets, tech is part of kids’ lives. AI chatbots are part of the mix now, too. A Pew Research Center survey of U.S. parents reveals how widespread technology is for kids ages 12 and younger and the day-to-day reality of managing screen time as a parent. Roughly 6 in 10 parents of an 11- or 12-year-old say their child has their own smartphone. While parents strive to manage screens, 42% say they could do better.
Statewide Increase in Lead Testing for Children
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has announced a 26% increase in the number of children under age 6 who have been screened for lead exposure statewide, allowing state and local health departments to catch more cases of lead poisoning sooner.
Testing children for lead exposure and knowing how to avoid common sources of lead exposure can prevent serious health impacts to Wisconsin children. No amount of lead exposure is safe for kids, and even small exposures to lead can have serious, long-term consequences on the brain and neurologic development.
In 2024, DHS updated its statewide blood-lead testing recommendations to recommend that all children receive a blood lead test at age 1 and age 2, resulting in a 26% statewide increase in testing rates for children under age 6, or about 99,500 children tested in 2024. The increase in testing has identified more than 4,800 children with lead poisoning, helping to also increase the number of children and families who receive information on early intervention and prevention resources.
Study Shows the LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health Crisis is Worsening in the U.S. but Help Seeking and School Support are Improving
The Trevor Project released findings from its first-ever longitudinal study, following 1,600+ LGBTQ+ youth (ages 13-24) from September 2023 through March 2025 with data collected every six months. After the first year of the study, they found LGBTQ+ youth reporting recent anxiety symptoms rose from 57% to 68%; depressive symptoms climbed from 48% to 54%; and LGBTQ+ youth reporting suicidal ideation grew from 41% to 47%. LGBTQ+ youth reported widespread experiences of victimization and discrimination, both at the start of the data collection period and one year later.
The study also addressed protective factors for LGBTQ+ youth. The percentage of LGBTQ+ youth who reported feeling supported at school rose from 53% to 58%. Participants also reported significantly higher rates of seeking help during suicidal crises; the proportion of LGBTQ+ youth who turned to a mental health professional during a crisis doubled from 32% to 64% after one year. Seeking support from friends also jumped from 45% to 73% over the course of one year.
Anti-Bullying Policies in School Help LGBTQ Youth
Recent research from The Trevor Project finds school policies that specifically prohibit all forms of anti-LGBTQ+ bullying are associated with lower rates of in-person bullying at school and lower past-year suicide attempts among LGBTQ+ youth. LGBTQ+ young people who reported that their school had an anti-LGBTQ+ bullying policy reported the lowest rates of being bullied at school (28%).
School Mental Health and Preferences Among LGBTQ+ Youth of Color
While most LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) young people successfully navigate adolescence, they tend to report poorer mental health than their peers, due in part to increased exposure to risk factors like rejection and discrimination.
Research suggests that LGBTQ+ students of color are at higher risk for mental health challenges due to their potential to be exposed to multiple forms of discrimination. Additionally, research suggests that Black and Hispanic LGBTQ+ youth are less likely to have their mental health care needs met than their white peers. Schools can play an important role in supporting the mental health of LGBTQ+ students. While some research is available to help guide schools’ efforts, relatively few studies have focused on the experiences of LGBTQ+ kids of color. Child Trends released findings to help schools better understand and support these students. Among the findings: students said they want school staff to engage them in ways that promote a sense of belonging; and not every challenge these students face is related to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Takeaways from Recent PCE Research
The HOPE National Resource Center led a collaboration that analyzed survey data to study the lifelong health effects of positive childhood experiences (PCEs). Looking at survey data from four states – Kansas, Montana, South Carolina, and Wisconsin – the research team found further evidence that Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) are associated with long-term health and wellbeing. Those who reported 3-5 PCEs were 40% less likely to report depression, and those reporting 6-7 PCEs were 68% less likely to report depression. These results complement prior studies, conducted using similar methods, that showed the long-term harmful effects of adverse childhood experiences.
Loneliness/Social Isolation the Most Widely Recognized Threat to Youth Mental Health
Families are navigating an unprecedented range of stressors — from economic uncertainty and loneliness to emerging technologies, social pressures, and global events. These challenges affect individual well-being, reverberate through family relationships, and shape how young people envision their futures. A new report, 2025 Study Report on Navigating Mental Health – An Intergenerational Perspective, from The Child Mind Institute reveals that the vast majority of both parents and youth place loneliness/social isolation among their top three concerns for youth mental health, making it the most widely recognized threat across generations. When parents and youth highlight the same mental health challenge — like loneliness — it signals urgency, and common ground.
Loneliness During Adolescence and Subsequent Health and Well-Being in Adulthood
While the importance of loneliness is becoming more commonly acknowledged as a driver of poor health, it is unclear if and how loneliness in adolescence shapes health and well-being in adulthood. This longitudinal study examined that relationship across 41 outcomes.
Participants with the highest loneliness levels had worse outcomes on a number of mental health and well-being outcomes including higher risk of depression, higher likelihood of asthma, and lower levels of optimism. They also had worse outcomes on all measured health behaviors and prosocial outcomes compared to participants who were not lonely.
These findings suggest the importance of intervening during adolescence to better address adult outcomes.
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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