As children return to classrooms around the state, the Department of Health Services is reminding students to take care of their mental health.
Recently released data on Wisconsin students’ well-being shows persistent problems.
More than half of all students reported anxiety, more than a third reported feeling sad and hopeless every day for over two weeks, a mark of depression, a quarter of girls seriously considered suicide, and a fifth of high schoolers considered self-harm.
Additionally, only about 25% of high school students get sufficient sleep every night.
Getting the recommended amount of sleep at night is critical to mental health.
Caregivers can prioritize the importance of sleep by removing all screens from bedrooms at night.
Having screen-free bedrooms can also help reduce online bullying and unhealthy digital habits.
The Wisconsin State Office of Children’s Mental Health has numerous tips to address the ongoing issue at Children.WI.gov.
