Lake Behavioral Hospital: Always Finding a Way

Wisconsin residents who need mental health services can now be treated close to home. In an unprecedented agreement between more than a dozen municipalities and taking more than 5 years to complete the process, the team at Lake Behavioral Hospital proudly announces a “GO Live” date of May 30,2023, for Chapter 51 patients to receive treatment just minutes across the Wisconsin/Illinois state line vs several hours from their homes and communities.

The benefits for this agreement are many. Previously, people in a mental health crisis in Kenosha would be transferred from their local Emergency Room via police transport to communities like Winnebago. Although patients could receive appropriate treatment, having the patient be so far from home and away from family and other support systems could be quite the emotional burden in an already emotionally charged situation. For the police providing transport, nearly a full day of transport time and the work hours for two officers were a burden to their home department. Those officers need to be closer to the communities who depend on them.

To explain, Chapter 51 is a way of creating a safety net for someone who is substantially at risk for self-harm or is a danger to themselves or others. Being transported to services allows for increased safety and a defined location for a program that can help. In the case of Wisconsin residents needing crisis services for mental health, being transported over several hours certainly would elevate fear and anxiety. A 20-30-minute transport time makes a world of difference and allows for much easier discharge planning closer to home.

Lake Behavioral Hospital is grateful to be a part of this life changing process and proud to have worked with a multitude of professionals from a variety of law enforcement agencies and Kenosha –local government officials.

As always, any person who is not in an ER in Kenosha, can still come directly to Lake Behavioral Hospital via appointment or walk-in for an assessment for mental health services. One call to 855-990-1900 is the way to access the Assessment and Referral Team who will identify the best level of care for the mental health concern.