Sun Prairie, WI: "Increase in students who reported long-term anxiety and depression"

Dec 11, 2017, Sun Prairie (WI) Star: Finding a balance: Students organize mental health day at SPHS http://www.hngnews.com/sun_prairie_star/community/article_229e74d4-7430-5481-8dfb-95606a8b19ee.html Though many students, including in Sun Prairie schools, struggle with mental health issues, many feel that mental health is not being talked about. Sun Prairie High School student Kaitey Crosby wanted to change that. Crosby organized an all-day event at the high school, called Cardinal Balance, to bring students together to hear about mental health resources and start a conversation with one another.... For Cardinal Balance, Crosby invited speakers and students to come together in sessions throughout the day to discuss mental health statistics, resources and coping strategies. Crosby organized the event as part of a DECA project, with help from her fellow DECA students and advisor Sarah Hart Olson. … The last Dane County Youth Assessment, which surveys middle and high school students on health habits, sexual behavior and emotional well-being, showed an increase in students who reported long-term anxiety and depression. … Researchers have theorized that increases in graduation requirements have led to higher stress and anxiety among students, but many are still trying to figure out why anxiety and depression are trending upward, Koenig added. … Bradley said she applied to be part of the mental health action plan group because she wanted to see if she could help improve a school mental health system that is not supportive enough. As a student with anxiety and depression, Bradley sometimes can’t come to school…. Two of the speakers were from the National Alliance on Mental Illness Wisconsin, a nonprofit which provides free support groups and resources on mental health.