Stabilization Facilities

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.

What is Crisis Stabilization?

North Central Health Care’s Crisis Stabilization is the first step in life-changing care and treatment for 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 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 3-5 days. A variety of programming is offered to support mental, emotional and physical well being.

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 professional support staff. An experienced social worker collaborates with our care team to discuss clients treatment, discharge, coping skills, community resources and other individual needs during an individuals stay to help facilitate getting an effective support system in place.

Length of stay is determined on a case by case basis by our clinical team.

Admissions to Crisis Stabilization

Most 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. Planned stays or Brief Therapeutic Interventions (BTI's) may also be requested by reaching out to our Crisis Center at 1.800.799.0122.

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 programming and discharge planning.

Contact the Crisis Center for Admission Info at 1.800.799.0122
North Central Health Care, 1150 Lake View Drive • Wausau, WI 54403
No appointment necessary.

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.