Crisis Stabilization

woman speaking with nurse

Helping Youth & Adults through a Crisis

Some crisis situations are best managed in a supportive environment, surrounding yourself with a network of people who can help you plan to address challenges when you return home. North Central Health Care offers a short-term, non-medical Crisis Stabilization Facility for adults and youth.

Crisis Stabilization Facility Opened in 2021

What is Crisis Stabilization?

North Central Health Care’s Youth Crisis Stabilization is the first step in life-changing care and treatment for young people of any age who are experiencing a mental health crisis. Under the direction of a Medical Director and Clinical Supervisor, our program provides 24-hour care in a warm and welcoming setting. The Crisis Stabilization program provides short-term therapeutic interventions to reduce and stabilize a person's crisis and link them to other resources and supports.

Length of stay depends on each person's needs, but services are designed to be short-term, approximately 2-5 days. Treatment includes regularly scheduled evidenced-based group and individual therapy and a variety of skill-building and educational groups.

Crisis stabilization provides individuals experiencing a mental health crisis the opportunity to recover and relax in a calming environment. Our specially trained staff provide 24/7 support and observation and work closely with onsite licensed clinicians and psychiatrists to help provide counsel, therapy, and rehabilitation for short-term residents in crisis.

Adults stay in our 8-bed Crisis Stabilization unit. For those under the age of 18, a separate 8-bed Crisis Stabilization unit is available and specifically designed and managed for adolescents.

Patients may remain in the Crisis Stabilization Facility longer for 30 days as needed, depending on their individual care plan. Adults may be in the program longer based on recommendations and care planning unique to their individual situation.

Admissions to Crisis Stabilization

All admissions to the Crisis Stabilization Facility will be referred through NCHC Crisis Services. Please contact the Crisis Center first by calling or stopping by in-person. No appointment needed.

Crisis Center
1.800.799.0122 or 715.845.4326

North Central Health Care • 1150 Lake View Drive • Wausau, WI 54403
No appointment necessary.

At the Crisis Center, individuals are assessed by Crisis Professionals who gather information to understand their needs and determine eligibility. Those who can be discharged safely will have resources in place to provide treatment as needed. Each person, and each situation, is treated uniquely and patients are referred to the appropriate level of care based on the assessment of the Crisis team. If crisis stabilization is deemed the appropriate level of care, the patient will be transferred to the Crisis Stabilization Facility, either the adult or youth unit, where the admission process can begin. From there, each patient will settle in and, when comfortable, begin participating in their treatment schedule.

Admissions to Crisis Stabilization: Please contact the Crisis Center at 1.800.799.0122 or 715.845.4326
North Central Health Care
1150 Lake View Drive • Wausau, WI 54403
No appointment necessary.

During the recent COVID-19 pandemic we have implemented several safety measures to ensure residents, clients and staff are protected from infection. Learn more about what we are doing to protect your health. You can also sign-up for email notifications to stay up-to-date on changes related to COVID-19

Keeping You Connected

Stay in touch with your loved one by sending an encouraging eCard to a client staying at Crisis Stabilization Facility and we will print and hand-deliver your personal message free of charge.

Emergency/Crisis Contacts:

  • 1.800.799.0122: Toll-Free Call connecting you to Crisis Support in the Marathon, Langlade and Lincoln Counties
  • 715.845.4326: Connecting you to Crisis Support in Marathon, Langlade and Lincoln Counties
  • 988 - National Suicide & Crisis Hotline connecting you to assistance in U.S. This number is not a direct dial to NCHC Crisis Services.
  • For those with hearing or speech difficulties, please dial 711 to connect with the WI Relay Service.
    When you dial 711, a communications assistant will connect you with the NCHC Crisis Hotline. Please provide the operator with the number 715.845.4326. English and Spanish translation is available through 711. For more information about 711, please visit WI Relay 711.