MERRILL, Wis. (WJFW) – Governor Tony Evers visited Merrill High School today to meet with students, teachers and faculty to discuss student mental health issues. The visit was part of Evers’ plan to address what he calls a “burgeoning crisis” in mental and behavioral health. The governor declared earlier this year that 2023 would be the “Year of Mental Health.” Today, he praised MHS students for their efforts in growing the “Raise Your Voice” program at the school.
“The fact that they’re willing to come together and talk about it is paramount,” Evers said. “They want to work with others to make a difference. Having been in school most of my life, it’s extraordinary.
During his visit, Evers met with “Raise Your Voice” student representatives from Northwoods Schools. The program aims to help students with mental health issues. After a group discussion with the students, Evers credited them with paving the way for mental health.
“These students are taking it upon themselves and I think it’s a great opportunity for them,” Evers said. “Having a group of students as active as some of the ones we saw today, they’re going to share this and it’s going to grow forever.”
Merrill High School students Reggie Lahti and Jalie Severt – president and secretary of MHS’s Raise Your Voice chapter – said it was special to have their voices heard.
“It’s so great to see someone who represents our state and also represents what we believe in,” Lahti said.
“Our main goal is just to break down the stigma around mental health and mental illness…anywhere we can get it, really, to help people know that it’s normal and they can get help” , Severt said.
During the meeting, Evers mentioned several members of his own family and how the issue affects him on a personal level.
“Obviously it has an impact on Kathy and I, but uh… it’s something that I think every family, in one way or another, tries to resolve.”
The governor asked another interesting question to the group of students: why is this Above all girls sitting here? The students agreed that he was right, leading everyone to recognize that biases need to be broken, especially for male students.
