Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex to close permanently Sept. 9

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee County officials say the county's mental health complex in Wauwatosa will close permanently in less than a month. But a new, state-of-the-art Mental Health Emergency Center will open around the same time, just west of downtown Milwaukee.

Officials say this marks an important milestone for the county's behavioral health system, with a historic public-private partnership with the area's four health systems: Advocate Aurora Health, Ascension Wisconsin, Children's Wisconsin and Froedtert Health.

“After a decade of research, community input and redesign, we are reaching the next milestone in transitioning to a national best practice model of behavioral health care,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “The redesign focused on improving access to behavioral health services and quality care in our most underserved and vulnerable communities. This is a major development in demonstrating our commitment to achieving racial and health equity and becoming the healthiest county in Wisconsin.

The Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex and Psychiatric Crisis Services, located for more than 40 years on Watertown Plank Road, will close its doors on Sept. 9.

Services will be transitioned to the new Mental Health Emergency Center, Granite Hills Hospital in West Allis, and other community-based services.

The new emergency center will open on Sept. 6 at 1525 N. 12th Street in Milwaukee. 

Individuals and family members facing a behavioral health or co-occurring crisis can call the Crisis Line at 414-257-7222.

Families with children or youth facing a crisis should call the Children’s Mobile Crisis (CMC) at 414-257-7621.