May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The State of Wisconsin is working to promote awareness of the importance of mental health through programs designed to provide information and support to those in need. 

The Dept. of Health Services has resources available online to assist Wisconsin residents understand the importance of mental health, how to talk about mental health, and where to seek help.

In 2019, the Speaker’s Task Force on Suicide Prevention began to convene to study and work to address the impact of suicide in Wisconsin. According to the task force webpage, suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death in Wisconsin. This bipartisan task force will travel around the state to hear from survivors, experts, advocates and families who have been impacted in order to better support those struggling and to improve resources for suicide prevention. Policy recommendations are expected to be released fall 2019.

For reports and information about the programs state agencies are implementing to support mental health, visit the Wisconsin Digital Archives. Here are just a few reports available:

• Fact Sheet on Mandated Benefits for the Treatment of Nervous and Mental Disorders or Substance Use Disorders
• Services for Persons with Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Disorders
• Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program (VORP) Final Report
• Wisconsin Mental Health and Substance Use Needs Assessment
• Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health Annual Report to the Wisconsin Legislature
• The Wisconsin School Mental Health Framework
• Wisconsin Suicide Prevention Strategy

For more information about mental health and access to immediate help, go to MentalHealth.gov.

Blog post written by: Abby Swanton, Resources for Libraries and Lifelong Learning