Behavioral Health Services (BHS)
Providing Connections That Support Recovery
24-Hour Crisis Line
Call (414) 257-7222 now if you believe you or a loved one is experiencing a crisis.
Quick Links
I Need Help With...
I Want to Learn More About...
Understanding Wisconsin's Mental Health Laws
Understanding Wisconsin's complex mental health laws is a frequent topic of discussion for our Behavioral Health Services (BHS) team. In order to provide insight into the system, an panel of experts, representing all aspects of the system was assembled during Mental Health Month 2025 to discuss how the system works, Chapter 51, and the challenges they face. The discussion was moderated by BHS Administrator Mike Lappen.
Signs of a Crisis
- You've thought about what method you would use to harm yourself or someone else
- You don't feel able to cope with daily problems or activities
- Your thoughts are racing and you are talking faster than you remember
- You hear voices others don't seem to hear
- You feel others are planning to harm you
- You feel constant pain and/or stomach discomfort
- You feel unusually tired, or energetic, all of the time
- You feel very agitated or restless
If you are feeling any of these things, call our crisis line right away, any day, any time.
We can send a mobile team to you, or you can visit any of these crisis help locations below:
MCFI Behavioral Health Crisis Resource Center
(South Side)
By phone only, no appointment necessary.
Hours: 24/7
Phone: (414) 643-8778
MCFI Crisis Resource Center
(North Side)
5409 W Villard Ave. Milwaukee, WI
By phone only, no appointment necessary.
Hours: 24/7
Phone: (414) 539-4024
Access Clinic South
(Located within Sixteenth Street's National Avenue Clinic)
Access Clinic Flyer (English & Spanish)
1635 W. National Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53204
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Walk-in hours (for initial assessment): M-F, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Phone: (414) 257-7900
Access Clinic East
(In partnership with Outreach Community Health Centers)
Access Clinic Flyer (English & Spanish)
210 W. Capitol Dr. Milwaukee, WI 53212
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Walk-in hours (for initial assessment): M-F, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Phone: (414) 257-7665
Access Clinic North
(Located within Milwaukee Health Services, Inc.)
Access Clinic Flyer (English & Spanish)
8200 W. Silver Spring Dr. Milwaukee, WI 53218
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Walk-in hours (for initial assessment): M-F, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Phone: (414) 257-5190
Milwaukee County Mental Health Clinic
(Located within Shafi Plaza)
1919 W. North Ave, Suite 200, Milwaukee, WI 53205
By appointment only
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Phone: (414) 257-7610
For Adults
Adults age 18 and up needing help with non-crisis behavioral health or substance abuse treatment, learn about our Adult Services.
CARS Brochure (English) | CARS Brochure (Spanish)
Call us at (414) 257-8085.
For Children
Behavioral health and addiction know no boundaries, including those we erect separating adults and children. If you are age 23 or younger, or the parent/guardian of a minor, experiencing behavioral health problems or addition to alcohol or other drugs, BHD can help.
Learn about our Children's Services.
Call us at (414) 257-7607 to start the process of connecting you or your child to recovery.
For Adults
If you have a person aged 18 or older in need of behavioral health or substance abuse help provided by the Milwaukee County DHHS Behavioral Health Services, you have two options:
- Call BHS's Community Access to Recovery Services (CARS) program at (414) 257-8085
- Fill out the CARS referral form and fax it to (414) 454-4242
For Children
All children's services at the Milwaukee County DHHS Behavioral Health Services are centered on our Wraparound Milwaukee program. Referrals to Wraparound Milwaukee are simple, and only have a single point of contact.
All you have to do is call (414) 257-7607 and we can get the process started.
- General Information: (414) 257-6995
- Medical Records/Release: (414) 257-5200 | Fax: (414) 257-8167
- Human Resources: (414) 257-7434
- Administration: (414) 257-5202
Mike Lappen, MS, LPC
Behavioral Health Services Administrator
Contact [email protected] for media inquiries