Mental health walk-in care is now available at the Wisconsin-Kenosha Children’s Clinic. This will be the second such facility in southeastern Wisconsin, along with the Craig Yabuki Mental Health Walk-in Clinic on the Milwaukee campus, which opened in spring 2022.
Both clinics are staffed by licensed therapists, social workers, and clinic assistants. Children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 can receive immediate care without the need for an appointment or referral.
“We know that children and their families need more support and access to mental health services,” said Amy, MSSW, APSW, vice president of mental and behavioral health at Children’s Wisconsin. Herbst said. “Think of these walk-in clinics as mental health ‘emergency care.’ We don’t want children or parents to be hesitant about coming to the clinic. Whether you have an established therapist or have never seen a mental health professional, these clinics can provide immediate support. ”
Herbst told the Wisconsin Morning News that the new center will serve to further Gov. Tony Evers’ mission. In his 2023 State of the State address, Governor Evers declared 2023 the “Year of Mental Health.”
“Walk-in clinics can really help families understand that mental health is healthy,” Herbst says. “If your child had an earache or a sore throat, you would go to emergency care, but that’s the same thing. Just as families think about emergency physical health, they think about mental health and emergency mental health.” The way we think about physical health is also changing.”
The two clinics aim to fill the gap in care for children experiencing a mental health crisis. According to the Wisconsin Department of Children’s Mental Health’s 2023 annual report, one in 10 Wisconsin teens said they had attempted suicide, and half of all children suffered from depression, anxiety. The patient has been diagnosed with a medical condition or behavioral problem. At the same time, half of Wisconsin youth report difficulty accessing mental health services.
“We cannot thank the people at Kohl’s enough for their efforts in making this clinic a reality,” said Meg Burzyski Nelson, president of the Children’s Foundation of Wisconsin. “The need for mental health services for Wisconsin’s children is urgent, and Kohl’s was one of the first and continues to be one of the most ardent supporters of this work. Wisconsin has been committed to building the best possible mental health system for our children, but we cannot do it without the philanthropic support of generous individuals and organizations. ”
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