Rep. Robyn Vining Applauds Governor Tony Evers for Declaring 2023 The Year of Mental Health

MADISON – Today, Governor Tony Evers delivered the annual State of the State address, outlining promises kept and priorities for the year. One of the top priorities outlined in his speech was declaring 2023 the Year of Mental Health. State Representative Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa), who is the Ranking Democratic Member on the Assembly Committee on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder, issued the following statement in response:

“I am proud to work alongside Governor Evers this session as we continue improving mental health support resources for Wisconsinites everywhere. Included in Gov. Evers Executive Budget is $500 million to expand access to mental and behavioral health, including veteran and school-based mental health services, suicide and crisis lifeline support, and efforts to bolster mental and behavioral health in the workforce.

“It is refreshing to have a governor that listens to the will of the people of Wisconsin, crafting a budget to reflect the priorities that my constituents care about. I am committed to continue championing these issues, and I stand ready to work with Gov. Evers and my colleagues to make the biggest investment in mental healthcare in recent memory.

“I want to highlight the words that Governor Evers said during his speech today, ‘The state of mental health in Wisconsin is a quiet, burgeoning crisis that I believe will have catastrophic consequences for generations if we don’t treat it with the urgency it requires. Mental and behavioral health is as much a health issue as it is an economic one: it affects kids in the classroom; it affects workers being able to join and stay in our workforce; it affects whether folks are able to stay in safe housing or have economic security; it affects folks’ ability to take care of and provide for their family and loved ones.’

“Governor Tony Evers has led Wisconsin forward, with careful consideration to the needs of Wisconsinites statewide, and with his unique brand of kind and steady leadership. We must work as a legislature to invest in the mental health of our neighbors, so that when we move forward as a state, we move forward together.”

(Rep. Vining represents the 14th Assembly District, which includes parts of Wauwatosa and West Allis. For more information visit Rep. Vining’s website here)

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.