Wisconsin ranks highest for overall mental health care

Wisconsin was ranked #1 for mental health in a nationwide survey. This fact may surprise anyone who recently attempted to book an appointment with a therapist.

Despite a shortage of therapists and wait times for mental health providers that can be six months or more, mental health americaWhen it comes to addressing the mental health needs of its residents, it turns out that the Badger state still stands tall enough to outperform other states.

Compared to other states, adults in Wisconsin report unmet mental health needs, more adults seek treatment, and more students report emotional disorders in individualized education programs. is small.

These facts propelled Wisconsin to the top spot in the nation.

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Industry experts say the fact that Wisconsin has invested in the mental health needs of its residents may also be a reason for its high status.

Martina Gorin-Graves, President and CEO, was surprised to receive such high recognition. Mental Health America of Wisconsinchalking up some of the scores to federal dollars that Gov. Tony Evers’ administration has prioritized mental health and states have recently received from dollars in coronavirus aid, relief and economic security, and the American Relief Plan Act. rice field.

But more than that, this speaks to the prevalence of mental health needs in every state across the country, Gorin-Graves said. Demand is high everywhere.

“I don’t think we’re necessarily doing things for the better or changing the system,” Gorin-Graves said. But … it reflects disparities elsewhere.”

A report released Thursday found adults with mental illness, youth with major depressive disorder, and those suffering from mental health conditions who were unable to get treatment due to labor shortages or lack of insurance coverage. It covers a range of measures, including those who are

Wisconsin’s ranking 2023 State of Mental Health in America ReportMore than 12 million adults across the United States report having suicidal thoughts, 16% of young people report having at least one major depressive disorder, and have experienced a substance use disorder. almost all adults with HIV reported not receiving treatment.

Wisconsin’s figures tell a similar story. About 5% of the population, or 219,000, report serious suicidal thoughts, slightly higher than the national rate. Her 14% of Wisconsin youth reported having at least one major depressive disorder, lower than the national rate.

Nearly 22% of adults in Wisconsin report having some form of mental illness, compared to the national rate of 21%.

At a press conference hosted by Mental Health America on Wednesday, Maddie Reinert, senior director of population health at Mental Health America, said the data had clear policy implications.

“Based on these findings, it is clear that there is a need to invest in public mental health approaches, including policies that address the social determinants of mental health and infuse all policies with the promotion of mental health. The United States,” said Reinert.

According to Schroeder Stribling, president and CEO of Mental Health America, the pandemic has only increased mental health disorders.

“We know that mortality, hopelessness, drug use, opioid overdoses, alcohol-related mortality, and suicide rates increased during this time,” Stribling said Wednesday. , which is not specifically written out of this report, but which I would like to reinforce because it adds to the sense of urgency of this moment.”

Equity issues and labor shortage are at the heart of Wisconsin’s mental health crisis

At Mental Health America of Wisconsin’s Milwaukee clinic, federal funding from the pandemic has allowed the small clinic to see more clients. Gollin-Graves believes the report’s measurements have more to do with the infusion of dollars than they accurately reflect access to healthcare, Gollin-Graves said. Stated.

According to Gollin-Graves, Wisconsin is suffering from an “unprecedented” labor shortage, largely due to organizations’ inability to meet the growing demand for salaries.

The report showed that there are 440 consumers with potential need for all mental health providers in the state. To put this into perspective, the national average is 1 mental health provider per 350 consumers.

“I thought it would get better at first, but it just keeps getting worse,” says Gollin-Graves. “We can’t keep up.”

Despite its number one spot, Wisconsin’s mental health crisis is unique, says Gollin-Graves. Prescriber shortages are plaguing health care providers and consumers at the state and national levels.

“More and more people are getting access to mental health services, especially now that telemedicine is an option, but they are getting access to prescribers in a timely manner. “It’s one of the big problems in the industry,” said Gollin-Graves.

However, the advent of telehealth has lagged behind Wisconsin residents, especially rural communities, where broadband access is limited.

These equity issues range from technology to the lack of culturally competent counselors. Gollin-Graves adds that not all Wisconsin communities have the same stressors, and people of color in Wisconsin are less likely to seek treatment and more likely to commit suicide.

Economic barriers also prevent vulnerable populations from accessing treatment. According to a Mental Health America report, Hispanic adults with mental illness in the United States are the least likely to have health insurance, with 19% having no insurance. Uninsured rates among Hispanic adults soared from 2017 to 2020. Likely to delay mental health treatment During COVID-19.

These barriers feed into new data on Hispanic youth. Wisconsin Department of Child Mental Healthfound that 52% of Hispanic youth in Wisconsin suffer from mental health problems, and 51% of Hispanic youth live in low-income households.

Reinert, senior director of population health for Mental Health America, said the expansion of Medicaid has been shown to reduce racial disparities in health care coverage, especially for black and Hispanic adults. I’m here.

“The expansion of Medicaid is associated with a significant decline in the proportion of adults with depression who are uninsured and who delay mental health care because of the cost,” Reinert said. , millions of adults reported in the United States.”

more:New findings show Greater Green Bay residents are sadder, more isolated and less hopeful for the future

Natalie Eilbert covers mental health issues for USA TODAY NETWORK-Central Wisconsin. She welcomes story tips and feedback.you can contact her neilbert@gannett.com Or view her Twitter profile. @natalie_eilbertIf you or someone you know is dealing with suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text the National Crisis Text Line at 741-741 with “HOPELINE”. please give me.

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