REACH Waushara Coalition is proud to bring to the community an awareness campaign for mental health and suicide prevention. We are bringing events to the community such as Waushara Run for Hope 5k Run/Walk and a Mental Health Night – QPR training which are just a couple of examples. We are providing many resources throughout the county such as the 211 We Heart You Cards, Waushara County Crisis resource cards and the 988 lifeline campaign cards, flyers and posters. Our newest campaign is a coffee sleeve with the “text or call 988”, you can find these at Sunshine Coffee in Redgranite, Candle Freak in Wautoma and Starks and Luce in Plainfield.
Why is this so important for our community to have these resources known? Here are some important statistics you may not have known.
•1 in 5 US adults experience mental illness each year
•1 in 6 US youth aged 6-17 experience mental health disorder each year
•People ages 85 and older have the highest rates of suicide
•In 2020, 45,979 people died by suicide in the US, that is 1 death every 11 minutes
•12.2 million adults seriously thought about suicide
•3.2 million adults made a plan
•1.2 million adults attempted suicide
In Waushara County Schools (Wautoma, Tri-County, and Wild Rose) 70% of middle school students and 79% of high school students in the county responded to the DPI Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) in 2021.
•62% of middle schoolers and 49% of high schoolers reported having issues with anxiety.
•40% of middle schoolers and 31% of high schoolers reported having issues with depression.
•33% of middle schoolers and 18% of high schoolers reported intentionally self-harming, without intending to die.
•26% of middle schoolers and 18% of high schoolers reported they seriously considered suicide in the last 12 months.
•18% of middle schoolers and 14% of high schoolers reported having a suicide plan.
*Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and the WI Department of Public Instruction YRBS Survey.
