Community Mental Health
103 W. US-2 Wakefield, MI 49968
Walk-in hours: Monday-Friday 8-4:30pm
24/7 Crisis Hotline: 1-800-348-0032
TTY/Hearing Impaired: 1-800-649-3777
Who can Access Crisis supports?
Anyone in Gogebic County can access 24/7 mental health crisis support by calling 1-800-348-0032. Walk-in crisis support is also available at CMH office at 103 West US-2 in Wakefield during regular business hours, Monday-Friday 8-4:30pm.
*Crisis services are available to everyone in Gogebic County, regardless of insurance status
What is a mental health crisis?
A mental health crisis is a situation in which an individual is experiencing difficulty coping with overwhelming emotions and/or managing problematic behaviors. A crisis is self-defined and differs from person to person. A crisis may involve thoughts about harming oneself or others, feeling disoriented or out of touch with reality, a compromised ability to perform day to day activities or meet one’s basic needs, or other difficulties.
What is a mental health emergency?
A mental health emergency is a situation in which an individual is experiencing acute symptoms of a mental health condition and/or developmental disability that impact their behavior and thinking in ways that present an imminent risk of harm to themselves or others. Whenever there is an imminent risk of harm, call 911. Examples of emergency situations include individuals interrupted during a suicide attempt, individuals engaging in behaviors that are certain to cause imminent physical harm without intervention, and individuals seeing/hearing things that others cannot see/hear.
How can a crisis worker help?
Every crisis situation is unique. Crisis workers are present, listen, and hold space to create a safety for emotional expression and facilitate regulation. Crisis workers ask questions to better understand the crisis and help identify types of support will be most helpful in working through it. Crisis interventions often include risk assessment, psychoeducation, emotional regulation, coping strategies, safety planning, and linking to community resources. In some situations, the crisis worker may explore the option of inpatient treatment, if symptoms warrant intensive and emergent psychiatric treatment, and/or the safety of a controlled environment to closely monitor symptoms while treatment is provided.
What is inpatient treatment?
Inpatient behavioral health treatment is sometimes recommended for individuals who are experiencing a mental health emergency. The average length of stay at an inpatient unit is one week. Inpatient treatment typically involves daily individual/group therapy, evaluation and treatment by a psychiatrist who can prescribe medications to help manage symptoms, and close monitoring of safety and symptoms by nursing staff.
What is a “mental health hold”?
Most inpatient hospitalizations are voluntary: the individual signs him/herself into treatment and likewise can sign out of treatment against medical advice, if they choose. Ideally, all hospitalizations would be voluntary. However, some mental health symptoms impede one’s ability to recognize their need for treatment and/or the risk of harm should they not receive treatment. For these situations, there is the option to pursue court-ordered treatment. In Michigan, this requires completion of a “Petition for Mental Health Treatment” and a “Clinical Certificate.”
Once these two forms are completed (often in the ER), the individual is on a mental health hold: they cannot sign out against medical advice, and are held under protective custody of law enforcement in the ER if necessary. An inpatient bed at a psychiatric hospital is then located (a psychiatrist must accept the transfer request) and the individual is transported by law enforcement to the hospital.
Upon arrival to the inpatient unit, the individual is evaluated by a psychiatrist within 24 hours, who completes a second “Clinical Certificate” to indicate whether or not they agree that inpatient treatment is medically necessary. If deemed necessary, all 3 legal forms are faxed to the Probate Court, who will assign an attorney to represent the individual, and schedule a hearing within 7 days. The attorney will meet with the individual at the hospital to review their rights and options prior to the hearing. The purpose of the court hearing is to determine if the information provided in the petition and clinical certificates justify involuntary treatment. If so, the court will issue an order for the individual to comply with prescribed treatment, and the “mental health hold” remains in effect. If not found to be justified, the court will order the individual be released immediately.
What is an “AOT”?
AOT stands for Alternative Outpatient Treatment. It is a treatment order issued by a court when a hearing regarding a Petition for Mental Health Treatment determines that the individual is a “person requiring treatment.” An AOT can be “outpatient only,” “inpatient only,” or “combined inpatient and outpatient.” An initial AOT is no longer than 180-days in duration, with no more than 60 of those 180 days in inpatient care. AOTs can be renewed by filing subsequent petitions for second/continuing orders for mental health treatment, or else left to expire. AOT’s are issued to compel individuals to follow through with recommended mental health treatment, aiming to reduce the frequency of recurrent episodes of acute symptoms that pose a risk to the safety of self/others and require inpatient hospitalization.
What is a deferral?
An individual under a mental health hold has the option, upon meeting with their attorney, to sign a “deferral” form. In signing a deferral, the individual waives their right to a court hearing, and attests to the court that they agree to participate voluntarily in the recommended treatment for their mental health condition. A court hearing is then not scheduled unless: the individual either requests a hearing to dispute the terms of the deferral; or the individual does not follow the terms of the deferral, in which case the hearing may be requested by the treating provider or agency monitoring compliance with the deferral.
How can I request hospitalization for someone who refuses to seek treatment?
Anyone can complete a “Petition for mental health treatment,” to request the court to order a mental health assessment on an individual who is believed to need treatment, but who is declining to participate in treatment voluntarily. The petition process is intended only for situations in which an individual’s acute symptoms of a mental health condition are placing them or others at imminent risk of physical harm, and only in situations where the individual has been offered the opportunity to participate in treatment voluntarily and has declined. Completing a petition does not guarantee that an individual will be sent to inpatient treatment: the petition is a request for the court to order the individual receive a mental health evaluation. The court has the authority to determine, based on the information provided in the petition, whether or not this is a situation that warrants such action. If the court grants request for order for assessment, it will issue an order for law enforcement to locate the individual and bring them to the ER for a mental health assessment.
Additional Crisis Resources
DIAL HELP
24 Hour Crisis Line: (800) 562-7622
24 Hour Crisis Text: 906-356-3337
Crisis Chat: www.DialHelp.org
DOVE
24 Hour Crisis Line: 800-711-6744
Veterans Crisis Hotline
24 Hour Crisis Line: (800) 273-8255, press 1
Iron County, WI Crisis Hotline
24 Hour Crisis Line: 1-866-317-9362
If you speak a language other than English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call Customer Services at 906-229-6120. Gogebic Community Mental Health Authority (CMHA) complies with all Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. CMHA is a member of NorthCare Network and receives its funding from NorthCare and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.