Fond du Lac Area Goes Mental 4 Community Mental Health FAQ

Gov. Tony Evers has declared 2023 as “the year of mental health” throughout Wisconsin.

Consider these startling statistics*:

• Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction indicates students statewide have significant mental health needs, and further investment and support is essential to address these ongoing challenges.

• From 2019-20, 20.78% of American adults (50 million+) were experiencing a mental illness.

• Millions of adults in the U.S experience serious thoughts of suicide, with the highest rate among multiracial individuals. The percentage of adults reporting serious thoughts of suicide is 4.48%, totaling over 12.1 million people. It's worse - 6% higher - for multiracial adults with 11% of adults identified with two or more races reporting serious thoughts of suicide in 2020.

• More than 1 in 10 youth in the U.S. are experiencing depression that is severely impairing their ability to function at school or work, at home, with family, or in their social life. 16.39 % of 12- to 17-year-olds report suffering from at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year. 11.5% of youth (2.7 million+) are experiencing severe major depression.

• In the U.S., there are an estimated 350 individuals for every one mental health provider. However, these figures may be an overestimate of active mental health professionals, as it may include providers who are no longer practicing or accepting new patients.

*These statistics are provided by Mental Health America. Find and share the pdf version at

The State of Mental Health in America | Mental Health America (mhanational.org) 

Our Fond du Lac Area Women’s Fund promotes its Health and Well-Being foundational pillar by hosting this free family-friendly Community Mental Health Challenge in May as part of Mental Health Awareness Month. The FDLA Women’s Fund supports a proactive approach to mental health, which begins in do-able increments.

The power of 20 minutes can significantly reduce negative symptoms and improve your overall well-being. Dedicating 20 minutes a day to your mental health has shown to improve your energy, reduce stress, promote the feel-good chemicals in the brain, and elevate overall mental wellness.

Join Today: Dedicate 20 minutes per day to be mentally healthy!