Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley Encourages Residents to Access Services and Resources Throughout Mental Health Awareness Month

MILWAUKEE – This May, in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, County Executive David Crowley and the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Behavioral Health Services (BHS) is raising awareness of its community-based services and resources available to all Milwaukee County residents.

Milwaukee County BHS continues to meet people where they are at with community-based services, including Community Access to Recovery Services (CARS) and Comprehensive Community Services (CCS), the Milwaukee Mobile Crisis (MMC), Access Clinics, the Milwaukee County Mental Health Clinic, Wraparound Milwaukee-Children’s Community Mental Health Services, along with other services and resources.

If a child or adult is having a mental health or substance use crisis, residents are encouraged to call Milwaukee Mobile Crisis, the 24/7 Crisis Line at 414-257-7222. Mobile Crisis Clinicians will be dispatched anywhere in the community to provide in-person assessment, stabilization, connection to additional services, and appropriate follow-up.

“Milwaukee County provides critical behavioral health services to children and adults, while continuing to invest in prevention though our Better Ways To Cope initiative, community-based partnerships, and innovative programs,” said County Executive Crowley. “I encourage Milwaukee County residents to explore the services and programs available to them. There are mental health and substance use crisis resources here within our community, and local teams are ready to help. Let’s keep working to break down barriers and help people experiencing mental health challenges receive the care and support they need.”

County Executive Crowley recently released a video highlighting May as Mental Health Awareness Month. You can watch the video HERE.

Several events taking place to get critical resources and information to individuals, children, and families:

Tuesday, May 6, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

• Rise & Recover: An event celebrating mental health awareness through addiction recover and overdose prevention. Residents can join the Overdose Prevention Team for a mental health event with food, demonstrations on how to use Narcan and fentanyl test strips, and connection to resources.
  • Location: Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center, Inc., 930 W. Historic Mitchell Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204

Thursday, May 8, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

• National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day: Wraparound Milwaukee is hosting a celebration in honor of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day with resources, activities, food, music, and more.
  • Location: Owen’s Place, 4610 W. Fond du Lac Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53216

Wednesday, May 21, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

• Understanding Wisconsin’s Mental Health Law: County Executive Crowley will recognize Mental Health Awareness Month and BHS Administrator Mike Lappen will moderate a panel discussion on Understanding Wisconsin’s Mental Health Laws, which will offer insight into the complexity and changes in the past decade.
  • Location: Marcia P. Coggs Health and Human Services Center, 1230 W. Cherry Street, Milwaukee, WI 53205

Milwaukee County BHS is putting a spotlight on Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) which serves youth and adults by providing support for mental health or substance use issues. CCS is a voluntary community-based program that addresses needs throughout a person’s lifespan with a coordinated and comprehensive array of recovery, treatment and psychosocial rehabilitation services.

“For more than 30 years, we have proudly served individuals living with mental health and substance use disorders. CCS is one of the ways we provide holistic support to people of all ages,” said Jen Wittwer, Director, BHS Community Access to Recovery Services. “We want provide compassionate care that helps people thrive in the community.”

Additionally, since 2021, the Better Ways To Cope movement has been instrumental in creating awareness of prevention resources by hosting events, trainings, and regranting substance use prevention funds to community-based programs. Leveraging this successful track record is furthering collective impact by directing resources toward transformative initiatives aimed at tackling challenges related to the opioid epidemic.

About Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services
Behavioral Health Services provides care and treatment to adults, children, and adolescents with mental illness and substance use disorders through both County-operated programs and contracts with community agencies. Services include intensive short-term treatment through crisis services and inpatient services, and a full array of supportive community services for persons with serious mental illness and substance use disorders.

About the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services
The mission of the Milwaukee County Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) is to improve the quality of life for individuals who need support living healthy, independent, and safe lives within the Milwaukee community. DHHS’ vision is together, creating healthy communities to be recognized as the public model of excellence, leadership, and partnership in human services driving superior outcomes for our community.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.