The Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health recently came out with information that should not be a surprise: Youth can get mental health benefits from extracurricular activities.

The office detailed the connections between extracurricular activities and youth mental health in its most recent fact sheet at https://children.wi.gov/Pages/ResearchData/FactSheets.aspx.

Research found that kids who participate in extracurriculars such as lessons, sports, afterschool clubs or community ser­vice tend to have better mental health, according to the fact sheet.

Extracurriculars are organized activities that teach important life skills such as teamwork, interpersonal communication and stress management, which in turn bolster kids’ well-being and improve their lifetime outcomes, the fact sheet states.

“Extracurriculars also increase belonging, which is essential to mental well-being,” Linda Hall, director of the Office of Children’s Mental Health, said in a news release.

These activities can include band, theatre and student government, as well as sports and afterschool clubs or other groups or gathering places such as local libraries, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs and 4-H.

“Extracurriculars are known to help kids create strong bonds with their peers, develop conflict resolution skills and be more engaged with school,” according to the fact sheet.

Community service and volunteer groups attract young people as well. “This is good news, as research shows that volunteering can boost meaningful connections, provide a shared sense of purpose and reduce loneliness, hallmarks of positive mental health,” Hall said. “The majority of young adults say their lives have little or no purpose or meaning.”

Unfortunately, federal funding for these vital programs is being dismantled, Hall said. This also comes at a time when participation in school activities has declined from 2019 to 2023, from 69.3% to 61.9% for girls and 67.7% to 64.7% for boys, according to a Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction survey. Currently, 6 in 10 high school students participate in a school activity, the survey indicates.

“We know these activities are good for mental health, plus they benefit our communities, so we really need to be looking to scale up volunteer efforts, not scaling back,” Hall said.

The fact sheet highlights the mental health and economic benefits of afterschool programming and urges policymakers to bolster the sector by providing a dedicated funding stream.

“Knowing that extracurriculars help engage kids in school, it’s critical that Wisconsin provide robust afterschool opportunities, especially when kids are trying to catch up from pandemic learning losses,” Hall said. “Sometimes their afterschool activity is the only reason kids want to go to school. Sometimes their community center is the only place kids feel safe and connected to supportive adults. Given the academic and mental health benefits, it would be a mistake to overlook the role these programs play in our children’s lives.”