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In August, experts advise parents to pay attention to their child's mood, to spot and help soothe any anxiety from back-to-school jitters. (Adobe Stock)

Getting your kiddo in tip-top shape for school

Wisconsin children will soon head back to school and experts have a few tips to get them back into a routine and make sure they're in good shape…

Those tracking the rollout of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline say a small percentage of calls so far have resulted in law enforcement involvement. (Adobe Stock)

Two years in, evaluating 988 in WI, other states

A new report examined the rollout of the 988 mental-health crisis line in each state, including Wisconsin. The revamped National Suicide and Crisis …

According to leading support organizations, autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Amid higher autism rates, calls grow for community acceptance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported one in 36 children around the U.S. has autism spectrum disorder. Rates are much higher than a …

Nearly 13 million Americans receive health coverage through unique plans under both Medicare and Medicaid. They are known as Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans. (Adobe Stock)

Unique government health plans try to find an audience

Medicare and Medicaid are key sources of health coverage for many Americans and some people qualify for assistance under both programs. With lagging …

Wisconsin's New Freedom Transportation Program, which enlists volunteer drivers to help older people and those with disabilities get to the doctor, serves more than 40 counties. Program officials estimate they are at least 20 drivers short of where they need to be. (Adobe Stock)

WI hospital closures add urgency to need for volunteer drivers

This week, a Midwest health care system announced the closure of two hospitals of two hospitals in western Wisconsin. Those who help transport older …

According to United Health Foundation's latest America's Health Rankings report, Wisconsin is 26th in the nation when it comes to adult tobacco use. (Adobe Stock)

WI in top half for health rankings, but resources low for public outreach

Wisconsin ranks 22nd in the country when it comes to a range of health measuring sticks, and local public health officials said more resources could …

According to the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University, more than half a million children have been disenrolled from Medicaid in just 21 states that post child enrollment data on a more-timely basis. (Adobe Stock)

WI Kids Losing Health Coverage in Medicaid Unwinding

As Wisconsin kids head back to school, families who rely on Medicaid are reminded to ensure their children still have health insurance. States are …

In key categories measuring child well-being, Wisconsin consistently ranks among the top 20 states in an annual report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Despite High Ranking, Child Well-Being Concerns Persist in WI

An annual report measuring child well-being in the U.S. said several benchmarks have worsened overall. States like Wisconsin fared better in the …

This legislative session, Wisconsin Republicans have sought tighter caps on unemployment benefits, while adding more eligibility benchmarks. (Adobe Stock)

Veto Calls Grow Over Public-Aid Restrictions Proposed in WI

A coalition of Wisconsin groups is asking Gov. Tony Evers to reject bills it contends would make it harder for people struggling to get by to bounce …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends every woman get a well-woman checkup once a year. (Adobe Stock)

Health Experts to Women: Put Your Personal Health on the Front Burner

As Women's Health Week continues, experts in Wisconsin and elsewhere are reminding women to prioritize their well-being. The Centers for Disease …

Animal protection groups say warning signs of pet maltreatment can include dogs or cats left in yards chained up, looking dirty and in need of food and water. (Adobe Stock)

Animal Cruelty Awareness Month: Family Violence Warning Signs

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, and Wisconsinites are urged to be aware of how family violence can affect pets - as well as the need …

The National Alliance on Mental Illness says one in five college students faces a mental-health condition. (Adobe Stock)

Following MSU Shooting, College Students Reminded to Seek Support

This week's mass shooting at Michigan State University is the latest in a long list of such tragedies to happen on a campus, and students in …

A public health administrator in western Wisconsin says local-level offices have been chronically underfunded for years, limiting their reach in providing prevention tools and other services. (Adobe Stock)

Lack of Public Funding Overshadows WI Health Ranking

Wisconsin is 21st in the country when measuring health data, but an annual ranking found the Badger State is behind most other states in funding …

Mental health providers have reported a sharp rise in needs for services among children. And in states such as Wisconsin, analysts say it is even more pronounced among children of color. (Adobe Stock)

WI Child Well-Being Summary: Glaring Mental-Health Disparities

An annual summary ranks Wisconsin 10th in the nation for child well-being, and like many other parts of the country, mental health is a growing …

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wisconsin had 64,400 farms in 2020, down 500 from 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Help is Available for WI Farmers Facing Mental-Health Challenges

From inflation to climate change, Wisconsin farmers face numerous sources of stress that can't help but affect their health. And one program is …

In an April 2021 Pew Research Center poll, more than 40% of parents said they thought their child was

Education Leaders, Kids' Health Advocates Want Social-Media Reform

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and some education leaders and medical experts are urging parents to take a more active role in monitoring …

Excessive exposure to screens and the blue light they emit can impact kids' sleeping patterns. Per Wisconsin's Office of Children's Mental Health, kids aged 6-12 should sleep nine to 12 hours a night, and teens should get at least eight hours. (Adobe Stock)

As WI Schools Integrate New Tech, Experts Advise Managing Screen Time

The pandemic has compelled many teachers to integrate new technology into their lesson plans, increasing the risks excessive screen time can pose to …

Human service providers say even after a foster contract has been fulfilled, maintaining connections with kids who have aged out of the system can provide much-needed stability as they move into adulthood. (Adobe Stock)

Making the Holiday Season Brighter for Foster Kids Entering Adulthood

MILWAUKEE - With the holidays here, Wisconsin foster families and other mentors are encouraged to maintain close connections with older teens no …

Researchers say the links between experiences of racial discrimination and negative health outcomes are more pronounced for Black Americans than for any other group. (Adobe Stock)

UW Expert: Rittenhouse Verdict Could Add to Pain From Bias

MADISON, Wis. - The Kyle Rittenhouse verdict continues to evoke a range of emotions from the public. A University of Wisconsin expert says the …

Child well-being experts say being positively connected to peers helps young people develop the tools they need to become more confident and successful. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Back-to-School List Should Include Well-Being Awareness

MADISON, Wis. -- The school year is fast approaching, and many Wisconsin students will be headed back to the classroom for the first time in a while…

An annual child well-being report gives Wisconsin high marks for economic stability and health, but racial gaps persist. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Concerns Surround WI Child Well-Being Report

MADISON, Wis. -- Before the pandemic, Wisconsin was mostly faring well in providing positive outcomes for children, but an annual wellbeing report …

As many as 75,000 Americans could die because of drug or alcohol misuse and suicide as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new study by Well Being Trust. (Adobe Stock)

Concerns Grow Over COVID-19 Reversing Progress on Opioid Deaths

MILWAUKEE -- The coronavirus pandemic has pushed unemployment rates in many states to record highs, and health policy groups worry it could mean an …

To avoid stress during the COVID-19 crisis, mental-health experts suggest relying only on information from public health agencies and not social media. (Adobe Stock)

Health Experts on COVID-19: Stay Informed, But Avoid the Stress

WAUKESHA, Wis. -- Wisconsin residents are being urged to follow the advice of health experts and practice social isolation while keeping up on the …

The debate over the use of American Indian mascots still is playing out in professional sports, and at the high-school level as well. (Fibonacci Blue/Flickr)

Despite Pushback, WI Schools Will Still Allow Native American Mascots

MADISON, Wis. -- In a decision that angered activists, the Wisconsin Association of School Boards recently declined to endorse a proposal that called …

Brad Pfaff, the Wisconsin agriculture secretary fired by the Republican-controlled state Senate, has a new job as director of business and rural development for the state Department of Administration. (JillWellington/Pixabay)

Erpenbach: WI Farmers Struggling Through Political Battles

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin farmers are struggling to stay afloat as political battles take center stage. Republican Senate leaders said they …

The American Heart Association and others are confirming that, yes, we learn better and think more clearly after a good night's sleep. (Adobe Stock)

Doctors Confirm Mom’s Wisdom: ‘Get to Bed, It's a School Night’

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – With school back in session, doctors are saying, “Well, your mom is right – time to turn the phone off and get to …

States across the country are driving the trend of placing a higher percentage of children in foster care with families. (jess2284/Flickr)

Wisconsin Sees Rise in Finding Families for Foster Kids

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin is making a big effort to keep foster kids in family settings, with a 5% improvement over a 10-year period, according …

Treasured places in Wisconsin, such as the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, benefit from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. (National Park Service)

Congress Poised to Protect Land and Water Conservation Fund

MADISON, Wis. - Congress is poised to pass landmark legislation that could ensure the future protection of some of Wisconsin's most precious outdoor …

According to Prevent Suicide Wisconsin, there are almost always warning signs of suicide, but people are often unaware of their significance or unsure about what to do. (Pixabay)

Suicide Prevention Week: People Can Get Better

MADISON, Wis. – Suicide occurs among all groups of people – and Wisconsin has seen a steady increase in its suicide rate in the last two …

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says 20 veterans commit suicide every day. The Green Alert bill now in the Wisconsin Legislature would alert the community of a missing veteran. (Wikimedia Commons)

Green Alert Bill Passes Wisconsin Senate

MADISON, Wis. – For 18 days last spring, U.S. Air Force veteran Corey Adams of Milwaukee was missing, but it took eight days before he met the …

The holiday season can bring happiness, joy and stress, but experts say there are many ways to reduce the stressful aspects. (Wikimedia Commons)

Help for Holiday Stress

MADISON, Wis. – With family gatherings, shopping and holiday parties, this can be a very joyful season. But the holidays often include a lot …

After medical treatment, in many cases unpaid caregivers perform follow-up care for family members, such as giving injections and managing medication doses. (CDC)

A Tax Credit for Wisconsin’s Family Caregivers?

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin lawmakers are considering a way to help more than a 500,000 Wisconsinites who give their own time and money to act as …

With back-to-school time just around the corner for Wisconsin kids, an expert on child behavior says some anxiety is normal. (Mario Villafuente/Getty Images)

Helping Your Child Beat Back-To-School Anxiety

MADISON, Wis. - The start of another school year, just a couple weeks away, can trigger some anxiety among younger students, but there are things you …

Political arguments in the workplace have nearly doubled since last fall, according to the American Psychological Association. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Workplace Political Arguments On the Increase

MADISON, Wis. -- Months after the presidential election, political animosity lingers at workplaces across the country. The American Psychological …

The authors of a new bill, Wisconsin legislators from both parties, say their goal is to pave the way for returning veterans to succeed. (leekins/Getty Images)

Bill Offers Help to Get Wisconsin’s Returning Vets into Agriculture

MADISON, Wis. – A brand new piece of legislation, known as the Wisconsin Veterans Farm Bill of 2017, has just been introduced, seeking to help …

Mental health professionals say people can be stressed out by the toxic political atmosphere. (xavigm/iStockPhoto.com)

UW Health Psychologist: Many Suffering from Political Stress

MADISON, Wis. – The United States is experiencing a wide political divide and Wisconsin is one of the most politically divided states in the …

Shilagh Mirgain, a senior psychologist with UW-Health, says there are ways to beat stress before it beats you. (UW-Health)

Stress Awareness Month: Tips to Beat Workplace Stress

MADISON, Wis. – Regular bouts of anxiety can really do a number on your overall health, experts say, and persistent stress can lead to heart …

Prisons, such as the Racine Correctional Institute, have been a growth industry in Wisconsin, which now spends more tax dollars on correction than on education. Credit: Wisconsin Dept. of Corrections

Analyst: Wisconsin Spends More on Corrections Than Education

MADISON, Wis. - A new analysis from the Wisconsin Budget Project suggests the state is spending too much on corrections, which is a drag on the …

UW-Madison police say allowing firearms at Camp Randall Stadium would be a security nightmare. Courtesy: UW-Madison

Guns at Camp Randall Stadium, in Classrooms?

MADISON, Wis. – A bill to allow students to carry firearms at Wisconsin's technical colleges and University of Wisconsin System schools is …

Dr. Sharon Hirsch, chief of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, says untreated depression takes a significant personal toll and has a huge economic impact. Credit: Dr. Sharon Hirsch

Depression Screening May Save a Life

MADISON, Wis. - Thursday is National Depression Screening Day, a day to bring awareness of the illness and emphasize that depression can be treated…

A Wisconsin criminal defense attorney applauds what he calls a trend in Wisconsin and many other states away from using solitary confinement with inmates. Credit: Paul Fleet/iStockPhoto.com

Wisconsin Moving Away from Using Solitary Confinement

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. - Imagine being in a 6-by-10 foot cell with concrete walls, little if any natural light, with minimal human contact for nearly 24 …

State Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison, has introduced legislation to restore Wisconsin's two-day waiting period for handgun purchases. Credit: Eric Tadsen

Move to Reinstitute Wisconsin's Handgun Waiting Period

MADISON, Wis. – State Rep. Chris Taylor, a Madison Democrat, has introduced legislation that would reinstate Wisconsin's 48-hour waiting period …

Photo: Pediatrician Dr. Dipesh Navsaria says reading is as important to child development as checkups. He is pleased that University of Wisconsin Health has provided budgetary support to expand the Reach Out And Read program to 28 locations in the UW Health system. He says books build better brains. (Photo provided by Dr. Navsaria)

UW Health Pediatrician: Reading as Important as Check-Ups

MADISON, Wis. - According to a University of Wisconsin Health pediatrician, books build better brains. Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, medical director of …

PHOTO: A new report from the Annie E. Casey foundation shows strong evidence that children grow up best when they are nourished by strong and supportive relationships with their caregivers. About 13 percent of the 6,500 Wisconsin children in foster care are placed in non-family settings.

Report: Children Do Best Growing Up in Family-Like Setting

MADISON, Wis. – Children grow up best when they're in a family-like setting, with strong relationships with their caregivers, according to a …

Today Is World Mental Health Day

MADISON, Wis. - According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, at any given time, 19 percent of the state's population suffers from some …

IMAGE: This is a graphic representation of areas of a child's brain that are affected by stressors such as poverty, neglect and physical abuse. (Image provided by UW-Madison)

How Early-Life Stress Affects the Brain

MADISON, Wis. – Chronic, toxic stress such as poverty, neglect and physical abuse can have a lasting impact, according to a study just …

PHOTO: UW-Health Psychologist Dr. Shilagh Mirgain says one of the best ways to beat winter is to embrace it. (Photo provided by UW-Health)

UW-Health Psychologist: Beat Winter By Embracing It

MADISON, Wis. - Winter weather can make us want to hibernate, according to University of Wisconsin Health psychologist Dr. Shilagh Mirgain, but her …

PHOTO: Tom Beebe of the Institute for Wisconsin's Future says the system of funding public education in Wisconsin is broken. (Photo provided by IWF)

Support Urged for Special Education Reimbursement Bill

MILWAUKEE – Tom Beebe, project director of the Institute for Wisconsin's Future, says state funding for special education programs has been …

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WI: Mental Health