May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to prioritize well-being and support for ourselves and each other. In our region, the Tri-County Adult Suicide Death Review (2022–2025), an initiative of the Northeast Wisconsin Mental Health Connection, highlights the ongoing need for coordinated suicide prevention efforts.

Suicide rates in Calumet, Outagamie, and Winnebago counties have increased over the past decade, but local data also point to clear opportunities for prevention. Through strong partnerships and community collaboration, over 60 recommendations have been developed to improve access to care, reduce stigma, and strengthen support systems.

Looking to navigate local mental health and substance use services, take an anonymous mental health screening, or search an online library of resources?



Click here to visit the MyConnectionNEW.org website for a one-stop resource to connect to mental health and substance use disorder resources in Northeast Wisconsin. 

If you, or someone you know, are in crisis contact the Winnebago County Crisis Center at 920-233-7707.

Tick Season is Here!

Tick bite prevention starts now! Tick activity has already been high this year, so stay mindful of ticks and take steps to protect yourself. In Wisconsin, ticks are most active from May through November.

You can reduce your risk of tick-borne illness by using personal protection, checking for and removing ticks promptly, and managing your yard to keep ticks away.

Tips to Stay Tick-FREE:



1. Wear the right clothes. Long-sleeve shirts, pants, tall socks, and closed-toed shoes help prevent tick bites while outside.
2. Use effective bug spray. Make sure your bug spray has 20-30% deet to keep ticks and mosquitoes away.
3. Do daily tick checks on people and animals. Pay special attention to armpits, scalp, area behind the knees, between legs, and around the ears. For pets, make sure to check under collars and around tails, too!
4. Take a shower after coming inside. Taking a bath or shower within two hours of coming inside can help you find and wash off any ticks on your body.
5. Tumble dry outdoor clothing. Drying your clothing on high heat for 10 minutes after spending time outside can kill ticks you may have picked up.

If you spend a lot of time outdoors, download The Tick App. It’s a free app from our partners at the Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Disease.

It's that time of year again! Marshfield Clinic Research Institute

wants your ticks!

We have a limited number of tick collection kits at our Oshkosh office location (112 Otter Street), or you can request one straight from Marshfield. Click here to learn more about the Marshfield tick collection project.

On a warm spring day, taking a deep breath outside can feel refreshing. But the air is not always as clean as it seems. Air quality is not just a spring concern, it matters all year long. In Wisconsin things like wildfire smoke, ozone, and pollen can all affect the air we breathe.

Poor air quality can make it harder to breathe, and can cause coughing, itchy eyes, and a sore throat. Air quality affects everyone, even people who feel healthy. Children, older adults, and people with asthma or heart problems may feel the effects more, but no one is fully protected from poor air.

Did you know you can check the air quality each day? Websites like AirNow and Purple Air can provide the information you need to make healthy choices for yourself and your family. On days when the air is unhealthy, try to spend less time outside or take breaks indoors. Small steps can help protect your health and your family.

Learn more:

Wisconsin Department of Health Services Air Quality

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Air Quality Monitoring Data

Graduation season is right around the corner! As you plan your celebrations, keep food safety in mind to ensure your guests stay healthy and enjoy the festivities. Large gatherings and outdoor parties can increase the risk of foodborne illness if proper precautions aren’t followed.

A helpful way to remember food safety basics is the HATS protocol:

H – Handwashing

• Before handling any food, always wash your hands thoroughly. This is especially important when switching between tasks such as preparing different dishes, grilling, or handling raw and cooked foods. Clean hands are your first line of defense against contamination.

A – Avoid Cross-Contamination

• Keep raw foods, especially meats, separate from ready-to-eat items like salads or fruit trays. For example, raw chicken should never be placed near foods that won’t be cooked.
• Use separate trays for transporting raw meat to the grill and bringing cooked food back for serving.
• Use different cutting boards for raw and ready-to-eat foods.
• When storing food in the refrigerator, always place ready-to-eat items above raw meats to prevent juices from dripping and causing contamination.

T – Temperature Control

• Maintaining proper food temperatures is critical to preventing bacterial growth.
• Keep cold foods (salads, pasta salads, coleslaw, etc.) at 41°F or below.
• Keep hot foods at 135°F or above.
• When cooking meats, always check internal temperatures with a food thermometer before removing them from the grill. (Insert grill temperature chart here.)

S – Safe Time Limits

• Food should not sit out for long periods of time.
• Perishable foods should not be left out for more than 2 hours. After that, it’s safest to discard them.
• If you plan to save leftovers, refrigerate them promptly to begin the cooling process and reduce the risk of bacterial growth.

Learn More:

Wisconsin Department of Health Services Food Safety

USDA Food Safety

Click here to learn about Physical Activity Benefits for Adults 65 or Older

Public Health Staff Help Advocate for Housing Across Wisconsin

On March 17 2026, Community Health Strategists Lynnsey and Susan joined advocates from across Wisconsin for Badger State Housing Alliance’s annual Advocacy Day. As Co-Chair of the Alliance’s Advocacy Committee Lynnsey also helped plan the event.

What is the Badger State Housing Alliance?

This Alliance is a statewide coalition of housing providers, nonprofits, local governments, advocates, and community partners working together to improve housing affordability and stability across Wisconsin. Even with a last-minute change to a virtual format because of the blizzard, 50 advocates were able to meet with 20 legislative offices to talk about housing issues affecting communities across the state.

What is the Public Health Role in Housing Advocacy?

Public health works to improve the conditions that help people stay healthy. Housing is one of the most important factors that shapes health and is included in our Community Health Improvement Plan. Safe and affordable housing supports mental health, lowers healthcare costs, improves community safety, and helps people succeed at work and school.

During Advocacy Day, advocates shared how rising rents, limited housing options, and homelessness are affecting communities across Wisconsin. They also discussed solutions such as increasing affordable housing, preventing evictions, and removing barriers to shelter and support services.

Shortly after Advocacy Day, Governor Evers signed five housing-related bills into law that Badger State Housing Alliance had been advocating for and he vetoed SB 610, a bill that raised concerns about creating barriers for people trying to access shelter, substance use treatment, and recovery services.

Events like Advocacy Day show how public health works beyond traditional health services by partnering with others to create healthier communities through better housing and stronger systems. To learn more, reach out to our Community Health Strategist Lynnsey.

Generate your own digital BINGO card, or download in your preferred language here!