Milwaukee County to Highlight Ways to Access Mental Health Services During May – Mental Health Awareness Month

MILWAUKEE – In May, Mental Health Awareness Month, Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services (BHS) wants to ensure residents know what mental health and substance use disorder services are available, and how to easily access them.

With the closure of the Mental Health Complex last fall, Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services transitioned to community-based locations in neighborhoods, meeting residents where they are. Accessibility to behavioral health services is greater than ever. Services include Community Access to Recovery Services (CARS), the Crisis Assessment Response Team (CART), the Milwaukee Mobile Crisis Team, Access Clinics and the Milwaukee County Mental Health Clinic. These services provide care and treatment for individuals in need of mental health or substance use disorder services. This community-based approach is part of the behavioral health system redesign which began more than a decade ago.

“Our hope is that more families, friends and loved ones will have open conversations about mental health and struggles being faced,” said Shakita LaGrant-McClain, Executive Director, Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services. “Mental health challenges affect our entire community, and we must work to destigmatize the need for mental health support. I encourage Milwaukee County residents to explore the services and resources available to them. There are mental health and substance use crisis resources here within our community, and the teams are ready to help.”

Highlight a Different Area of Focus Each Week in May
Each week in May, BHS is offering interview opportunities with spokespeople to discuss services and resources available for Milwaukee County residents and how they get connected.

Week of May 1-7: Community Access to Recovery Services (CARS)
For over 30 years, CARS has proudly served adults living with substance use and mental health disorders. CARS provides a range of supportive services (prevention, treatment, care management and recovery support) to Milwaukee County residents that are rooted in compassion and dignity. The goal is to eliminate barriers to behavioral health services and increase our community’s ability to thrive.

Week of May 8-14: Crisis Assessment Response Team (CART)
CART works in partnership with law enforcement for co-response to mental health emergency calls. Clinicians respond to 911 dispatch and requests from other police officers or mobile clinicians for mental health emergencies. The focus of the services CART provides is to assist individuals to stabilize in the community, link them to appropriate resources and divert from detention or arrest.

Week of May 15-21: Milwaukee Mobile Crisis
Milwaukee Mobile Crisis supports callers on the Milwaukee County Crisis Line, 414-257-7222, and provides mental health response and intervention services to individuals at any age on an outreach basis, on-site, in-person or face-to-face in the community. Mobile Crisis Clinicians may be dispatched anywhere within the community 24/7 to provide in-person assessment, stabilization, connection to additional services and appropriate follow-up.

Week of May 22-28: Access Clinics
The Access Clinics support uninsured or underinsured Milwaukee County residents over the age of 18 who are facing a mental health or co-occurring crisis by connecting them to culturally competent behavioral health care, within their own community and regardless of their ability to pay. The Access Clinics currently have three locations across the county to support community members in need:

• • Access Clinic East: 210 W. Capitol Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53212
  • Access Clinic Noth: 8200 W. Silver Spring Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53218
  • Access Clinic South: 1635 W. National Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53204

Week of May 29-31: Milwaukee County Mental Health Clinic
The new Milwaukee County Mental Health Clinic, located at 1919 W. North Ave., is an outpatient clinic that provides medication management and psychotherapy services to serve youth and young adults enrolled in Wraparound Milwaukee or Youth Comprehensive Community Services (CCS).

“Our goal remains to connect the community to compassionate quality behavioral healthcare that helps both the young and old continue their path toward healing.” said Dr. Ken Cole, Director of Outpatient Treatment, Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services. “With clinics across Milwaukee County, Mental Health Awareness Month is the perfect time to highlight the importance of behavioral health care and how best to access the services our clinical team has to offer.”

These community-based services benefit people who are experiencing significant, potentially life altering, behavioral health crises situations. As these community-based intervention services continue to expand, it’s important that Milwaukee County residents experiencing behavioral health crises have access to trained professionals to support them, so they receive the best care possible. Milwaukee County is currently hiring Mobile Clinicians to join Milwaukee Mobile Crisis and CART, and is seeking candidates who want to make a difference in the lives of Milwaukee County’s most.

For more information about all open positions and to apply, visit Milwaukee County’s career dashboard. To learn more about available crisis mobile positions, please visit MKEMobileCrisisCareers.com.

About Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services
Behavioral Health Services provides care and treatment to adults, children, and adolescents with mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual disabilities 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. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.