There’s “no wrong door” for people needing help. That’s Milwaukee County’s guiding philosophy on mental health, and it means that people in crisis can find help wherever they need it, regardless of what point in the system they enter – what door they knock on.
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The newest expression of that approach is a pair of remodeled “crisis stabilization houses” that opened this spring. The facilities – the West Side’s Martin House and the North Side’s Silverlawn House – offer an alternative to hospitalization or continuing recovery after hospital care, says Amy Lorenz, a deputy administrator for the county’s Behavioral Health Services.
There are many reasons patients may spend anywhere from days to a couple of months in the houses, Lorenz says. It can be a place for stability after they return home after a traumatic experience or relapse in drug abuse recovery. It may be a place to address needs outside of mental health – finding employment, correcting behavioral issues, securing healthy food or safe housing.
It’s all part of the county’s effort to create and expand a continuum of mental health care.
“As we envision a healthier future for Milwaukee County, we must ensure that folks can receive the help they need,” says Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “That’s why my administration is expanding mental health and substance use services throughout our community to achieve racial equity and ensure Milwaukee County becomes the healthiest community in Wisconsin.”
