Mental Health Crisis 

If you, or someone you know, is currently at risk of suicide, please call 1-888-552-6642.

We provide an immediate response to assist a person who is experiencing a mental health crisis. Northwest Connections is Chippewa County's contracted provider for both telephone and mobile crisis services. The contact number for Northwest Connections is 888-552-6642.

  • The telephone worker will ask you several questions as part of an assessment that can include:
    • Your name, entity and location, who you are calling about, address, DOB, phone number
    • What is the crisis situation
    • Risks identified
    • Do you have any history with this person or family
    • Who is there (family, friends)
    • If this is a juvenile have the parents/guardians been contacted
    • Does this person have a current mental health or substance abuse provider
  • After gathering this information, the telephone worker will assist in determining the next step(s), which may include, but are not limited to the following in any particular order:
    • Further consultation with other parties (patient, physicians, nurses, social workers, family, friends, witnesses, etc.) including the person in crisis
    • Community safety planning (stabilization in the community with a plan for safety). Are there community options for safety that may include family/friends/other providers?
    • Further evaluation by mobile responder (face to face). This person is a trained crisis worker who can assist the person and/or family.
    • Voluntary Inpatient Behavioral Health Admission
    • Emergency Detention approval (Involuntary Psychiatric Hospitalization)

Linkage and Follow-Up Services

Following all crisis calls, the Chippewa County Department of Human Services reaches out to the caller to provide resources, referrals, and support, as needed.

Coordination with law enforcement, local hospitals, and care providers is an essential part of this program. Evidence-based best practices are utilized that enables an individual to learn strategies to manage their mental health issues and make progress towards recovery. Core values in recovery emphasize the use of personal choice, hope, collaboration, and respect of the person being the expert in their own experiences.

»Prevent Suicide Manual

»After a Suicide Attempt Guide

Outpatient Mental Health Services

Outpatient Mental Health Services are available to a limited number of consumers who are currently established with a Chippewa County Department of Human Services case manager.

Substance Abuse Services

Services are provided to individuals who have an inability to pay for services elsewhere, or are referred by Chippewa County DHS staff. ices are provided based on assessed need and assessment of where an individual is in the process of change.

To learn more about Wisconsin's Substance Abuse Services, please visit WI Dept. of Health Services Substance Use Disorders.

Court Commitments

In Wisconsin, an involuntary commitment is a court order that requires a person, who is presenting as a danger to themselves or others, to receive treatment for a mental health or substance dependency issue.

We provide service facilitation for individuals who are under
Mental Health Commitments or Alcohol Commitments.

Three-Party Petitions

To submit a petition for an involuntary commitment, Wisconsin Statutes require three adults, who have first-hand knowledge of a person's need for treatment, to provide information to the Court. We are asking you to provide this information, in writing, via three individual letters. Information contained in the letters must be specific and recent (within one year), including dates. Those providing information also must be willing to testify in court if necessary.

At least one of the following criteria must be met in order to initiate an involuntary commitment:

Mental Health Commitment:

  • Evidence of recent threats of, or attempts at, suicide or serious bodily harm.
  • Evidence of a substantial probability of physical harm to oneself and/or other individuals as manifested by evidence of recent homicidal or other violent behavior, or by evidence that others are placed in reasonable fear of violent behavior and serious physical harm to them, as evidenced by a recent overt act, attempt, or threat to do such physical harm.
  • Evidence of such impaired judgment manifested by evidence of a pattern of recent acts or omissions that there is a very substantial probability of physical impairment or injury to oneself and that reasonable provision for his/her protection is not available in the community and the subject is not appropriate for protective placement.
  • Behavior manifested by a recent act or omission that, due to mental illness or drug dependence, he/she is unable to satisfy basic needs of nourishment, medical care, shelter, or safety without prompt and adequate treatment so that a substantial probability exists that death, serious physical injury, serious physical debilitation, or serious physical disease will imminently ensue unless the individual receives prompt and adequate treatment for this mental illness or drug dependency. No substantial probability of harm exists if reasonable provision for the individual's treatment and protection is available in the community.

Alcohol Commitment:

  • By clear and convincing evidence, the person habitually lacks self-control as to the use of alcoholic beverages (i.e. frequency of use, quantity consumed).
  • By clear and convincing evidence, the person uses alcoholic beverages to the extent their health is impaired or endangered (i.e. elevated liver, kidney damage, alcohol in blood, delirium tremors).
  • By clear and convincing evidence, the person uses alcoholic beverages to the extent their social or economic functioning is disrupted (i.e. family issues, employment problems, financial difficulties).
  • By clear and convincing evidence, the person's pattern of conduct is dangerous to themselves or others (i.e. driving while intoxicated, physical altercations, falling, not eating, blackouts).