Thursday, May 4, 2023
Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly has called upon all of us “to commit to increased action to build, fund, and maintain appropriate and sustainable mental health supports and accessible services for all of Wisconsin’s children.” This language is offered in a well-written Children’s Mental Health Week Proclamation that supports an earlier proclamation offered by Governor Evers to lift up Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on May 7, 2023.
In both proclamations, the emphasis on our children being our greatest resource and that they do not struggle alone with mental health challenges reminds us of the importance of both awareness and comprehensive and coordinated care as a “critical responsibility” for our educators, our communities, and our state. A health equity lens advances the idea that “mental wellness is heavily impacted by social determinants like income, housing, and available health care”. We are fortunate in Wisconsin to have key leaders like our governor and state superintendent lifting up mental health as a priority at a critical time when it is most needed.