Children’s mental health highlighted

In anticipation of the new Ken Burns documentary, Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness, the Office of Children’s Mental Health (OCMH) is promoting resources and actionable steps viewers can take to improve youth mental health.

The two-part documentary aired on PBS on June 27-28. The film gives voice to 20 young people who struggled with their mental health and details how they found hope and resilience.

In conjunction with the film, the Well Beings Youth Mental Health Project offers a variety of stories, videos, podcasts, and resources. Well Beings is working to demystify and destigmatize physical and mental health through storytelling. Resources include a Mental Health Language Guide, which provides adults with tools to discuss mental health with teens and young adults.

With a focus on Wisconsin, OCMH monitors children’s mental health and collaborates with a broad range of individuals and organizations to support youth well-being. The OCMH website has a number of resources, including parenting advice videos and tips, supports for families, fact sheets about mental health, trauma-informed care training videos, and information about lived experience in understanding and responding to youth mental health.

What We Can Do -- Create positive childhood experiences -- Learn about the importance of social connectedness of youth -- Continue to build resilience and social-emotional skills --Focus on prioritizing children’s mental health To get in touch with the Office of Children’s Mental Health, email ocmh@wisconsin.gov.