- School staff, peer support groups, and researchers are working to address growing mental health issues among students.
- Andy Farley, principal of Brookfield East High School, says they struggle to meet student needs despite counselors, psychologists, and social workers on staff.
- After student suicides, Brookfield East created a Hope Squad chapter for peer mental health support.
- UW professor Katie Eklund’s research finds 20% of students have issues but only 20% receive support, seeing consequences later.
- Eklund works to solve increasing child anxiety and depression rates with colleagues.
- There is a shortage of mental health professionals to meet the 70% of schools where more students need services.
- Eklund received $10M to increase the pipeline of school mental health providers nationally.
- State Rep. Robyn Vining introduced bills to increase Wisconsin K-12 mental health funding by $100M annually.
