Local mom advocates for mental health resources
BELOIT, Wis. (WKOW) — As parents, we fight for our kids.
For one mom in Beloit, sometimes that means doing the unthinkable.
“It’s the worst feeling when you have to call the police on your child.”
Char Ryan has two sons with autism, 8 and 12 years old.
Her 8-year-old, who she only wants to identify as “M,” started struggling with suicidal thoughts and multiple attempts on his life, at just 6 years old.
“He just motioned around his neck that he wanted to kill himself and he was trying to [with a wire},” she said of one instance.
Another time, she said, “He just started darting for a car, and he’s yelling, ‘I’m going to kill myself.’ So, I ran up, grabbed him, and I fought him on the ground for 20-30, minutes, just fighting, holding him, I was trying everything.”
Over the years, Char says he’s become more aggressive and it’s harder to regulate his emotions.
“He is screaming and yelling and threatening to kill us and kill himself and pulling hair and biting and spitting and kicking, and it’s just a rage,” said Char.
She had to quit her job to care for her kids. Her husband and older daughters help, too.
They’ve sought every resource to get the boys the help they need through state and federal programs and in-patient care for “M.”
“His team is fantastic. He has skills therapy, OT, he’s had individual therapy. We had four different people from his school district down there,” Char said.
But with proposed cuts to Medicaid, Char worries vital services and tools could be lost that help her kids regulate at home.
“If we didn’t have the secondary insurance, there’s no way that we would have been able to put him in-patient to get some help,” she said.
Char turned to local legislators to advocate for her kids and call for investing in mental health services for children.
One of them is Rep. Ann Roe, a Democrat in Janesville.
She sent us a statement after meeting with Char that reads:
“I have gotten to speak with Charline and listen to their story. She is not only advocating for her child but is also tireless in her work to change and improve our mental health services in our county and state.
The Rebout (Ryan) family’s experiences could not provide a more clear or a stronger case for investing in mental health services for children. When you listen to her information, the struggles, the heartache and trauma that they have endured in their quest for help and healing, it is so clear we as a state need to do more. Governor Evers’ budget will make proactive, substantive and sustainable investments in mental health services for kids and families.
I will also call upon my colleagues across the aisle to do more. I am a member of the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Committee which has only met once this session and has taken up only one bill—to add commercial civil lawsuits to the special treatment court docket. Such a bill has absolutely nothing to do with mental health. Instead, it is seeking special treatment for big corporations at the expense of those vulnerable people who need help.
Also, our office met with numerous community mental health service advocates, leaders and law enforcement who are all united in their literal begging for community based and regional mental health facilities. In the midst of the Rebout Family’s intense struggle, I am grateful for their advocacy and openness in sharing their story.”
Earlier this year, the Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health released a report showing trends over the last 10 years.
Among kids in the state, it found a 42% increase in depression, a 21% increase in self-harm and a 41% increase in kids who considered suicide.
“I’ve never felt so numb and helpless,” Char recounted. “I couldn’t understand why my 8-year-old son wanted to kill himself.”
Char is hoping by sharing her story, she can help push for change for other families.
“I hope it helps them, so they don’t feel alone.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Wisconsin Wayfinder offers guidance on programs and support for kids and can connect you to resources.
For children with disabilities, you can find information on resources through the Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education, Training and Support.
The Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin offers help for those with autism.
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