New teen mental health resource connects families, youth

Oct. 6, 2026

Contact:
Jeff Starck
Marshfield Clinic
715-389-4978 / Jeffrey.Starck@sanfordhealth.org

MARSHFIELD, Wis. – The Wisconsin Out of School Time Alliance (WOSTA), a program of Marshfield Clinic, partnered with the Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health to launch a new Teen Mental Health Resource hub designed to make trusted information and practical tools about young people’s mental health easier to find.

This one-stop online resource is for parents, caregivers and youth-serving professionals seeking more support for school-age youth. Family Resource Centers and youth-serving organizations across the state are seeing increased concern from parents seeking guidance and support for their school-age children, underscoring the need for accessible resources that families and adults who work with young people can use before challenges become crises.

The WOSTA Teen Mental Health Resources hub is available free online at https://www.wosta.org/teen-mental-health-resources.

“Parents, educators and youth-program professionals want to support young people, but knowing where to start can be overwhelming,” said Dr. Kelsie-Marie Offenwanger, Marshfield Clinic pediatric psychologist. “This resource brings trusted tools together in one place so adults and teens can more easily find practical strategies, credible information and pathways to additional help.”

Need is reflected in data
According to the 2023 Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 59 percent of high school students reported experiencing at least one mental health challenge during the previous 12 months. More than half, 51.6 percent, reported anxiety; 35 percent reported experiencing hopelessness almost every day for two weeks or more; and 20.9 percent reported non-suicidal self-harm.

Wisconsin’s youth mental health challenges can also have life-threatening consequences. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services continues to track suicide deaths and circumstances among young people through state death records and the Wisconsin Violent Death Reporting System, emphasizing that as the second leading cause of death for youth, suicide as a serious public health issue and the importance of prevention, intervention and connection to support.

The new Teen Mental Health Resources hub provides information for teens, parents, caregivers, educators and youth programs. Topics include emotional regulation and coping skills, healthy relationships, social media wellness, stress and mindfulness, sleep and mental wellness, bullying and cyberbullying, school-life balance and crisis support. The hub also connects visitors to trusted mental health organizations, wellness tools and resources specifically designed for parents and youth-serving professionals.

The project was developed to fill an identified gap in existing resources for middle- and high-school-age youth. WOSTA’s network identified a particular need for mental health supports serving this age group, including tools that help teens regulate emotions, strengthen relationships, develop healthy boundaries, tolerate discomfort and build positive leadership skills. The project also prioritizes practical strategies adults can use when supporting teens in after-school and other youth-serving settings.

The resource was made possible through funding from the federal Pediatric Mental Health Care Access grant administered by the Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health.

Timely resource amid growing attention to social media, youth mental health
The launch comes at an especially significant moment for Wisconsin. In August, Meta reached a landmark national settlement with states over allegations involving the impact of Facebook and Instagram on children and teens. Wisconsin is expected to receive at least $219 million and potentially up to $313 million under the settlement. Potential uses identified for the funds include youth mental health services, crisis intervention, school grants, after-school programs and digital wellness education.

That broader conversation makes resources focused on prevention and digital wellness increasingly relevant. WOSTA’s new hub includes a dedicated Social Media Wellness section with tools to help young people and families understand social media’s relationship to mental health and develop safer, healthier and more balanced digital habits. It also includes resources addressing cyberbullying, online safety and screen use for parents and caregivers.

“Supporting youth mental health requires all of us: families, schools, after-school programs, health professionals and communities,” said Linda Hall, director, Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health. “Young people need environments where they feel connected and supported, and the adults in their lives need reliable tools to help create those environments.”

The collection is intended to support, not replace, professional mental health care. Anyone experiencing an immediate mental health or suicide crisis can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the healthcare experience and providing access to world-class healthcare in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization has 60,000 employees and serves more than 2.5 million patients and nearly 415,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The integrated nonprofit health system includes a network of 60 hospitals, 315 clinic locations, 145 senior care communities, 4,900 physicians and advanced practice providers and 1,100 active clinical trials and studies. The organization’s transformational virtual care initiative brings patients closer to care with access to nearly 80 specialties. Nearly 450 residents and fellows are trained each year through over 40 graduate medical education programs, with Sanford Health serving as the primary funding source for 75% of the programs. Sanford Health also includes 92 retail pharmacies, including Sanford and Lewis Drug pharmacies with locations in 6 states, and more than 300 pharmacists. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural healthcare across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.

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