Press Release: Gov. Evers Delivers Radio Address Highlighting Mental Health Awareness Month

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 05/16/2024 10:00 AM CDT
Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 16, 2024
Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov 
 
Gov. Evers Delivers Radio Address Highlighting Mental Health Awareness Month
 
Audio File of Radio Address.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered his weekly radio address highlighting May as Mental Health Awareness Month across the state and nation. Gov. Evers proclaimed May as Mental Health Awareness Month, and a copy of the governor’s proclamation is available here.

Hey there, Wisconsin! Governor Tony Evers here.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month here in Wisconsin and across the nation to reduce the stigma and encourage folks and families to have open and honest conversations around mental health.

In 2023, I declared it the Year of Mental Health because I was worried the state of mental health in Wisconsin was a quiet, burgeoning crisis—one I still believe will have cascading effects for generations if it goes unaddressed.

That’s why I was proud to sign a budget that made key investments in addressing our state’s mental health crisis, including $30 million for school-based mental health services to support our kids, $10 million to establish two crisis urgent care and observation centers for folks in crisis, and $200,000 for DATCP’s farmer mental health assistance program.

And thanks in large part to U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, we were also proud to announce nearly $17 million in federal funding to support operations of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

This is all great news, but we know there is much more work to do, and I won’t stop fighting to make sure every Wisconsinite has access to quality, affordable mental healthcare.

Remember, folks, you are not alone, and help and hope are always available. Just call or text 988 and get connected to a trained crisis counselor.

May is a great reminder to take good care of ourselves and each other and let’s work together to reduce the stigma and build a healthier state for everyone.

Happy Mental Health Awareness Month, Wisconsin. 
 
An online version of this release is available here.
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