Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health

The Office of Children's Mental Health (OCMH) supports Wisconsin's children in achieving their optimal mental health and well-being. By encouraging collaboration across child and family service systems in Wisconsin, including state agencies, nongovernment mental health programs, advocates, and people with lived experience, OCMH supports children's mental health system improvements.

Help For Your Family

Annual Report/Fact Sheets

Youth Belonging

School Mental Health

News and Events

ALICE Focuses on Households Experiencing Financial Hardship

The Federal Poverty Level doesn’t account for many households that are struggling financially. The ALICE Household Survival Budget takes these families into consideration. 35% of Wisconsin households are ALICE - Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.

Learn more about ALICE in our newest Showcasing Solutions.

Building Mental Wellness: Ready-to-Use Messages

The Office of Children's Mental Health is launching a short, monthly message on youth mental wellness that you can “copy and drop" into your newsletter or communication. The Building Mental Wellness Copy & Drop will provide a ready-to-use short message and will be emailed the third Tuesday of each month from OCMH. All you have to do is sign up to receive it and then “copy and drop" it into your publications.

Sign up here (select “OCMH – Building Mental Wellness Copy & Drop").

Topics in the near future will include: connection before correction, the relationship between mental and physical health, everyday actions to improve mental health, sleep and mental health, and many more. Our first one will be emailed May 19.

Children's Mental Health Week will be May 3 - May 9, 2026.

2026 Theme: Wired for Belonging

As human beings, we are wired for belonging. This Children's Mental Health Week we are emphasizing the simple things anyone can do to promote youth belonging. Materials will be published soon!

OCMH 2025 Annual Report

Belonging Strategies
Extracurricular Activities	Data shows that extracurricular participation is linked with lower anxiety and depression, and less suicidality.
Student-Led Mental Wellness Programs	School-based peer-led wellness programs are in place throughout the entire state. A recent study found one such program reduced suicide attempts by 29%.
Supportive Adults	Having a trusting and supportive relationship with adults – not just parents – is one of the hallmarks of positive mental health.
Youth Leadership	Kids who feel they have a sense of control over their life, and have a say in matters affecting their lives, have better life outcomes.