Gov. Tony Evers' mental health message emphasizes 'no one carries their burdens alone'

Andy Williams' voice might croon to us that the holidays are “the most wonderful time of the year,” but they can also rock our mental health.

As we pass the threshold of Thanksgiving into Hannukah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa and New Year’s Day, some of us may feel more stressed, depressed and aggrieved, especially if we've recently lost loved ones. We're also more likely to confront or partake in heavier drinking or drug use. It might feel easier to keep quiet about our moods if they don't match the uplifting soundtrack of the times, but no one should suffer silently.

That's the message Gov. Tony Evers and first lady Kathy Evers are spreading this holiday season, 11 months after the governor declared 2023 "The Year of Mental Health." They emphasized coming together as a community to support those struggling this year.

"While the holidays can be a happy time for some, we know this season — and the expectations surrounding it — can also cause people to feel more stress, anxiety, loneliness and grief," Tony Evers said in a video linked to the press release. "But here in Wisconsin, no one carries their burdens alone."

"If you’re able, check in on your neighbors, friends and loved ones, and no matter what challenges you’re facing, it’s OK to share your feelings and ask for help," Kathy Evers continued on the video.

The holidays can worsen symptoms of mental illness

Around 64% of people with mental illness report holidays make their conditions worse, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a fact Evers included in his press release.

It's something that NAMI Wisconsin is paying close attention to. It put out a resource guide to address the winter blues, which includes tips like creating traditions with friends, family or yourself and spending time with supportive people and culturally relevant help lines like Trevor Lifeline for LGBTQ+ individuals and R&R House, a peer-support line for Wisconsin veterans.

Some may feel inundated with images depicting families and friends in picture-perfect holiday circumstances, said Mary Kay Battaglia, executive director of NAMI Wisconsin.

"Many people are dealing with loss, grief, family separation, health concerns and sometimes unresolved trauma that can create a sense of emptiness, loneliness and sadness," Battaglia said. "It’s a wonderful time to think of new traditions, connecting with friends and family and those dealing with loneliness can create their own image of thankfulness."

Domestic abuse spikes during the holidays

As more alcohol and money flow during the holiday season, couples may find themselves bickering more than usual. But sometimes those tensions can turn dangerous.

Take Golden House, a Green Bay-area domestic abuse shelter and resource center. In 2022, its shelter capacity jumped from 70% in October to 91% in November and December, according to Golden House Executive Director Cheeia Lo.

Put another way, Golden House sheltered 37 clients in September and October in 2022, and nearly doubled its shelter numbers in November and December when it provided shelter for 67 clients. More than half of the clients, she said, were children.

The spike in alcohol consumption and economic struggles during the holidays can be a tinderbox in certain households, Lo said.

"November and December are the busiest month for us at Golden House. Not only do we receive more calls, but also people in (the) shelter. And then we also see that people tend to stay in (the) shelter longer," Lo said.

In November alone so far, the shelter and resource center has taken nearly 1,000 calls to its help line. Lo expects call volumes to exceed 1,000 this month and next, anywhere from 1,000 to 1,300.

In 2023, around $100 million went to Wisconsin mental health and behavioral health programs

Evers originally proposed putting $500 million into mental and behavioral health programs over the 2023-25 biennium.

Instead, following ongoing budget discussions with the Joint Finance Committee, he eventually secured $80.7 million across mental health programs plus a 25% increase in county veteran services offices and tribal veteran service offices, which help veterans connect to benefits, and offers preventative programming and mental health resources.

Over the next two years, there's more in the budget for school-based mental health services, mental health assistance to farmers and farm families, Medicaid reimbursement rates for services provided in hospital behavioral health units, recruitment and training of psychiatry and behavioral health residents, and more.

Evers tipped his hat to U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), who led efforts to establish and secure funding for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a three-digit number akin to 911, which connects people in crisis to a trained telehealth counselor on a 24/7/365 basis.

It launched in July 2022 and had, thus far, some of the highest call volumes in the nation, at nearly 20,000 contacts, according to Evers' press release. In October, Wisconsin 988 Lifeline received a $17 million federal grant to expand operations.

For anyone experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, or for anyone struggling to support a loved one in crisis, the Evers' emphasized calling or texting 988, chatting online at 988Lifeline.org or visiting Resilient.Wisconsin.gov, part of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, for a list of resources and strategies.

Other strategies and recommendations from DHS include:

• Spending time with people who love and support you;

• Doing your best not to overbook yourself and, as important, to not feel guilty about making time for yourself;

• Drinking only in moderation and avoiding alcohol when you're feeling down;

• Exercising, moving, and getting outside if the weather is nice; and

• Getting adequate sleep and prioritizing rest.

Natalie Eilbert covers mental health issues for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. She welcomes story tips and feedback. You can reach her at neilbert@gannett.com or view her Twitter profile at @natalie_eilbert. If you or someone you know is dealing with suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text "Hopeline" to the National Crisis Text Line at 741-741.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Gov. Evers' message for the holidays: take care of each other