The Office of the Governor of the State of Wisconsin

05/21/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/21/2026 08:51

Gov. Evers Delivers Radio Address, Celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month in Wisconsin

Press Release: Gov. Evers Delivers Radio Address, Celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month in Wisconsin

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 05/21/2026 09:34 AM CDT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 21, 2026
Contact: [email protected]
Gov. Evers Delivers Radio Address, Celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month in Wisconsin
Audio File of Radio Address.

MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers today delivered the weekly radio address celebrating May as Mental Health Awareness Month across the state and highlighting his and his administration's efforts over the past seven-plus years to address the mental health crisis and ensure all Wisconsinites have access to quality, affordable mental healthcare. Gov. Evers declared May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Wisconsin in accordance with national observances.

Gov. Evers has been a champion for expanding access to mental and behavioral healthcare services across Wisconsin. In recognition of the troubling statistics seen over the past few years regarding mental health and the growing demand for mental and behavioral health services providers have seen across the state, Gov. Evers declared 2023 the Year of Mental Health in his 2023 State of the State address, calling mental and behavioral health a "burgeoning crisis" affecting the state and Wisconsin's kids, families, and workforce.

To build on this work, the bipartisan, pro-kid 2025-27 Biennial Budget signed by Gov. Evers in July included $30 million to continue providing comprehensive school-based mental health services statewide, modeled on the governor's successful "Get Kids Ahead" initiative, $7 million to support 24/7 virtual telehealth mental health services to nearly all students across University of Wisconsin System campuses, and $200,000 to support farmers and their families' mental health.

Last month, Gov. Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced that the governor's Interagency Council on Mental Health, created by Gov. Evers in 2024, released its statewide action plan, outlining how state government can continue to better support mental health in Wisconsin in the years ahead and build upon the Evers Administration's work over the last seven years.

If you or someone you know is in imminent danger or experiencing a medical emergency, call 911. If you are having thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself, call your county's crisis line or 9-8-8 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Anyone in need of support can call, text, or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at all hours of the day or night to talk with a trained counselor about any challenge or concern. This service is free and confidential. Additional mental health resources are available on the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website at: Mental Health: Healthy Living.

Hey there, folks! Governor Tony Evers here.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
Every day, but especially during Mental Health Awareness Month, it's important that we take good care of our mental health, have honest conversations about mental health, and look out for one another.
As a governor, who is also a grandfather, the state of our kids' mental health continues to be particularly concerning to me.
From struggles at home to cyberbullying and what they see on the news, our kids are struggling perhaps now more than ever.

That's why my administration and I have made investing in and supporting kids' mental health a top priority.

We created our "Get Kids Ahead" program and have invested millions of dollars into supporting school-based mental health services.

We supported the creation of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which has answered thousands of calls and proven to save lives.

And in 2024, I created our Interagency Council on Mental Health to bring our state agencies together to reduce barriers and address gaps in mental health services statewide.

Since then, this council has been working to develop a statewide Mental Health Action Plan to connect the dots and improve Wisconsinites' mental health.

This plan offers a roadmap to help us address the root causes of mental health crises, increase awareness and reduce the stigma around mental health, and build on our work over the past seven years to expand access to mental health services statewide.

And especially as we see chaos at the federal level that threatens to gut millions of dollars for mental and behavioral health services, public health, emergency services, and more, it's more important than ever that we do this work here in Wisconsin.

We cannot look back years from now and wish that we did more and sooner to address the state of mental health in our state.

Together, we're going to continue to build a healthier, stronger state and a future where every Wisconsinite can live their best and fullest lives. Thank you.
An online version of this release is available here.
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Office of the Governor • 115 East Capitol, Madison, WI 53702
Press Office Email: [email protected]
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The Office of the Governor of the State of Wisconsin published this content on May 21, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 21, 2026 at 14:51 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]