What is YScreen?
Take a moment to think about the youth in your life – perhaps a child, grandchild, or niece/nephew. If they had debilitating anxiety about schoolwork, emerging depression, or overwhelming relationship difficulties, where would they go for assistance? If they were struggling with suicidal thoughts, who would they tell? Would you know how to help them?
For 20 years, YScreen has reached vulnerable youth across Fond du Lac County and provided their parents with vital information and support as they undertake the task of securing the help their child desperately needs.
Fond du Lac Area YScreen is a not for profit program that partners with high schools throughout Fond du Lac County to identify youth at risk of mental health concerns, substance abuse, and suicide. YScreen provides youth with a safe place to discuss their current functioning, coping skills, and support network. If youth are identified as needing further evaluation and services, YScreen case managers support the youth’s parents/guardians as they navigate the mental health system and get their child connected to services.
Why is YScreen Needed?
Being a teenager has never been easy, and we know that the transition to high school can be particularly challenging. We also know that Fond du Lac County youth are struggling. In 2022, a survey of FDL Co high school students found that 16% had seriously considered suicide in the previous year. That is 4 students in a classroom of 25. Additionally, nearly a third (31%) reported that they had “felt sad or hopeless almost every day for at least 2 weeks”, with female students being more than twice as likely to state this.
Who does YScreen Reach?
Since the program’s inception in 2002, more than 16,000 area youth have participated in YScreen. Through the 5 step process, nearly 3,200 of these youth have been identified as struggling and each of their parents/guardians have been offered assistance in connecting their child to further mental health evaluation or services.
Learn more about YScreen
To learn more about the YScreen Program, contact the YScreen staff at 920-906-6571 or the counselor at your child’s school.