Suicide Prevention

It is vital that we take the proper steps to address suicide in Wisconsin because it has become a serious public health problem and, unfortunately, it only continues to get worse.

That was the main impetus behind this year’s creation of the Speaker’s Task Force on Suicide Prevention, which has been tasked with evaluating the available resources for suicide prevention in our state and identifying opportunities to target and assist at-risk individuals.

According to a recent report from the state Department of Health Services, the suicide rate in Wisconsin jumped by 40 percent between 2000 and 2017. Almost 920 Wisconsin residents committed suicide in 2017 and nearly 5,000 others attempted suicide.

While it's no secret that suicide can occur at any age, the statistics concerning our youth are especially troubling. After car accidents, suicide is the second most common cause of death for our adolescents.

To reverse this devastating trend, one of the legislative proposals brought forward by the task force would provide grants to help prevent suicide by firearms.

The legislation, which is modeled after the Gun Shop Project, would involve gun store retailers receiving training on how to recognize and avoid selling firearms to people who may be considering suicide. Retailers would also be asked to distribute suicide prevention materials at their businesses.

In an attempt to limit a person’s access to firearms during a time of crisis, the bill would also allow those individuals to voluntary store their guns in a safe at a retailer’s store.

Furthermore, I was pleased to join my colleagues on the Assembly Education Committee this week in unanimously recommending passage of three bills that came from the task force’s recommendations.

The first bill provides grants to support peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs in high schools. These programs typically train students to recognize suicide warning signs in their peers and to report those signs to an adult.

The other two bills require student identification cards to include contact information for suicide prevention hotlines and release grant funding to the Wisconsin Safe and Healthy Schools Center, which assists our schools with implementing programs related to mental health and drug abuse.

Because suicide rates among farmers are the highest of any profession, the task force is also proposing legislation that authorizes the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to issue tuition assistance grants to low-income farmers who enroll in a course on farm and business management techniques taught at a technical college.

It has been suggested that these courses provide both practical tools and a network of peer support to help farmers succeed, which may alleviate stress that could otherwise lead to more significant mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts.

I recognize that these bills won't solve all of our problems, but I'm confident they will be a significant first step. I am extremely grateful for all the hard work the Speaker's Task Force on Suicide Prevention has put into developing these proposals and I am honored to support them.

Mental Health Bill

I am proud to have signed on as the lead co-author of a bill that looks to improve access to mental health services throughout Wisconsin.

Under current state law, anyone who is practicing psychology in Wisconsin must be licensed by the state’s Psychology Examining Board. However, there is a need to revise our state statutes because they have not kept up with changes in the profession since the current law was enacted in 1994.

AB 487 would modernize the state’s psychology laws by removing barriers that make it challenging for health care organizations to hire psychologists, for psychologists to enter the workplace and for residents to receive mental health services.

The legislation also expands the licensing exemptions for professionals engaged in activities related to psychology and removes red tape in current state statutes.

While we have recently made great strides toward improving mental health care for our citizens, Wisconsin is still near the bottom in several critical areas. For instance, the state's teen suicide rate has almost doubled since 2007 and only 20 percent of those who seek mental health treatment from public providers actually receive care.

As our needs continue to rise and our state's aging mental health specialists retire, we need to take a proactive approach in ensuring our residents can get the care necessary to lead healthy and productive lives. I believe AB 487 is one of many steps that will move us in the right direction.

Because of the impact that mental illness can have on our society, I also authored a bill that was signed into law in 2016 that allowed more schools to offer mental health services.

That state statute requires the Department of Health Services to provide reimbursements under the Medical Assistance program to licensed treatment professionals for mental health care administered at a school, regardless of whether the school site is designated as a clinic office.

 Hemp Licenses 

I want to make sure all of you are aware that hemp licensing applications and registrations are now available for the 2020 Wisconsin growing season.

The hemp pilot research program administered by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection requires both hemp growers and processors to obtain one-time licenses and register each year they intend to plant and process hemp.

In 2017, the Wisconsin Legislature passed a bill that permitted farmers to grow hemp through the aforementioned pilot program. I am proud to be a co-author of this session’s AB 206, which makes the pilot program permanent and allows for our state to set procedures for maintaining information regarding hemp production, test for THC concentrations in hemp, dispose of non-compliant hemp plants and conduct annual inspections of hemp producers.

With farmers across our state struggling for different reasons, a permanent program will provide a great benefit to all of Wisconsin by helping them diversify their crop rotations and add new revenue streams.

There are multiple requirements for anyone looking to grow hemp. Producers need to have a research plan and agreement, as well as meet all reporting and record-keeping obligations. Growers also need to have their hemp sampled for THC levels. THC is the ingredient in marijuana that causes the “high.” THC levels cannot be greater than 0.3 percent and any crop that exceeds that percentage must be destroyed by DATCP.

If you would like to grow or process hemp in 2020 but don’t have a license, you can apply and register online by clicking here. Those who received a license in 2018 or 2019 do not need a new one, but they still must register if they are planning on growing or processing hemp in 2020. Current license holders can renew their registrations by March 1, 2020, and new licensees can apply at any time throughout the year.

According to DATCP, more than 1,800 growers and processors were licensed and registered for the 2019 season. I believe that figure proves the desire for this program, and I am looking forward to even more farmers participating in the upcoming season. 

Upcoming District Events

What: Game Day for All Ages
Where: Donald and Carol Kress Pavilion, 7845 Church St., Egg Harbor, WI
When: Saturday, Nov. 2, at 10 a.m. 
Details: "Raid the Egg Harbor Library game stash or bring your own. Free snacks and board games for all ages."

What: LEGO Kids' Club
Where: Sturgeon Bay Library, 107 S 4th Ave., Sturgeon Bay, WI
When: Saturday, Nov. 2, at 1 p.m. 
Details: "Kids (from kindergartners to fourth graders) can play with the Library's LEGOs and spend 45 minutes building something to share with the group. Creations are displayed in the Children's Department, where they can be admired for the rest of the month."

What: 40th Annual Southern Door Arts, Crafts & Vendor Show
Where: Southern Door Schools, 2073 Cty Rd DK, Brussels, WI
When: Sunday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Details: "New this year are photos with Santa, taste of Door County, a silent auction, and demonstrations/seminars. Concessions available. All proceeds benefit the Southern Door Athletic Booster Club. $2/admission."