Wisconsin Launches New Mental Health Action Plan for 2026
As May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has unveiled a comprehensive statewide action plan designed to enhance mental health support across the state. This initiative, led by the Interagency Council on Mental Health, aims to build upon the efforts made over the past seven years under the Evers Administration.
In 2023, Gov. Evers declared the Year of Mental Health in Wisconsin to address the mental and behavioral health challenges faced by children and families. The Interagency Council was established to bring together officials from 10 state agencies. Their mission is to analyze the current mental health services, understand underlying issues, and propose solutions that tackle the root causes of the mental health crisis, such as stigma and barriers to care.
“I declared 2023 the Year of Mental Health in Wisconsin because, as a governor who is also a father and a grandfather, I’m worried about the state of mental health in Wisconsin, especially for our kids, and we have work to do to make sure folks in crisis can get the care and the support they need,” stated Gov. Evers. “Making sure kids and families across our state can access mental and behavioral healthcare must continue to be a top priority for us as a state, and I’m proud our interagency council is helping make sure this work continues every day to reduce barriers and address gaps in mental health services statewide,” he added.
Key Recommendations from the Council
The action plan outlines several strategies to immediately improve mental health in Wisconsin, with additional recommendations for funding, staffing, and legislative actions. Some of the key recommendations include:
- Integrating Systems: Streamlining service access across state agencies and promoting mental health resources.
- Focusing on Prevention: Offering accurate prevention resources and supporting employee mental health.
- Reducing Stigma: Enhancing service through continued dialogue with partners and supporting the 988 Crisis and Suicide Lifeline.
- Increasing Access: Maintaining care quality while reducing barriers and expanding telehealth services.
- Continuing Prevention Efforts: Enacting policies addressing social disconnection and supporting individuals in transition.
- Securing Funding: Prioritizing state funding and ensuring parity in payment across programs.
Kirsten Johnson, Chair of the Interagency Council on Mental Health and Department of Health Services Secretary, emphasized, “These recommendations serve as a roadmap on how we can connect our services and programs to better serve the people of Wisconsin. This plan is actionable, and we will hit the ground running.”
The council’s efforts included extensive community and partner engagement, with members hosting regional listening sessions, collecting survey responses, and holding meetings to gather public input. The plan’s progress will be tracked and updated on the Interagency Council on Mental Health webpage.
Participating Agencies
The Interagency Council includes representatives from several state departments such as the Department of Administration, Department of Health Services, Department of Military Affairs, and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, among others.
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