This article represents the personal viewpoints of the author and is not meant to represent or speak on behalf of NAMI Racine County.

In his State of the State address, January 24, 2023, Governor Tony Evers declared 2023 as “The Year of Mental Health.” This declaration translates into a $500 million dollar proposal to be spent over two fiscal years.

The proposal covers aspects that NAMI Racine County considers of high importance in mental health services. Among the long list of recommendations, I would like to highlight the following: funding for Youth Crisis Stabilization, Peer-Run Respite for Veterans Support, Peer Recovery Centers Support, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Support, Medicaid Psychological Rehabilitation Benefits, and Qualified Trainee Grants Program Expansion.

With a historic surplus of $7.1 billion in the State’s budget, 2023 presents itself with a clear opportunity to face the "quiet, burgeoning crisis" of mental health in our state, as the Governor dubbed it. This is an issue recognized by legislators on both sides of the aisle, albeit the fact that the vision of how to tackle this crisis might differ.

As a person employed for a mental health agency and as a Wisconsin resident, it is my belief that the opportunity to improve the services for and the lives of those living with mental illness and their loved ones is at hand.

“It is our duty as community mental health advocates to work closely with the Governor and legislators to find ways to implement the necessary services that our state needs, not only to address issues like peer-run services and community-based centers but also the growing need for youth mental health support and suicide prevention.”

As highlighted by the Governor, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic “will have catastrophic consequences for generations if we don't treat it with the urgency it requires."

If such is the priority of the legislators, then the opportunity cannot be lost on partisan takeaways but rather agreed upon for the benefit of the taxpayers. This means that the “Year of Mental Health” should not become a political slogan but a social goal.

We often talk about the statistics: 1 in 5 adults in the US lives with a mental illness, and 1 out of 6 every high school student has considered suicide.

“These are more than just numbers; these are the lives of members of our society. This touches us all.”

As we await the upcoming budget proposal by the Governor, it is my hope that instead of a partisan position, the legislators have the very real and concerning needs of the residents of Wisconsin in mind. So it becomes the mission of us, residents of the state, to put these needs, these concerns, and these lives in front of our legislature and encourage a common ground that brings actual solutions to a recognized mental health crisis that is still far from over.

I invite you to share your thoughts on this topic and where you believe we can all meet to achieve a mentally healthier Wisconsin.