Resources
See below for a variety of resources related to mental health education and treatment including:
Crisis and in-the-moment support
Information and treatment
Support groups
Mental health drop-in centers
Substance use resources
Surviving suicide loss resources
Remember: It’s okay to ask for help and you are not alone!
Crisis Lines
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7 - Free - Trained Crisis Counselor)
Call/text the three-digit number 988 (click here for more info) or chat online
For more specific resources relating to specific populations, visit 988’s homepage
Great Rivers 211 (24-hour crisis line and referral service)
Dial 211 or 1.800.362.8255
Text zip code to 898211
Visit their website to chat or search their database
La Crosse County Crisis Line
Call 608.784.HELP (4357)
crisis-brochure.pdf (lacrossecounty.org)
Crisis Textline
Text HOME to 741741
Crisis Text Line | 24/7 Crisis Counseling
Non-Crisis Warmlines
La Crosse Lighthouse
Call 608.519.1489 at any time for over-the-phone peer support.
Iris Place
Call 608.244.5077 at any time Monday through Wednesday for over-the-phone peer support.
Monarch Place
Call 715.505.5641 at any time for over-the-phone peer support.
Solstice House
Call 608.244.5077 at any time for over-the-phone peer support.
Mental Health America’s R&R House
Call 262.363.9540 at any time for over-the-phone peer support to veterans, service members, and family members.
Mental Health America's Prism Program
Call or text 414.336.7974 Monday-Friday 10am-10pm and Sunday 10am-10pm for over-the-phone support to Wisconsin youth (under 26) identifying as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, or other identities under the LGBTQ+ umbrella. Also works with parents, caregivers, or relatives who want to learn how to support their LGBTQ+ child.
Mental Health America’s Uplift WI
Call 534.202.5438 Monday-Sunday 12 Noon–12 Midnight for over-the-phone peer support.
Parachute House
Call 414.877.5918 at any time for over-the-phone peer support.
The Parenting Network
Call 414.671.0566 at any time for over-the-phone parenting support.
Treatment
Mayo Clinic Health System Behavioral Health
Call 608.392.9555
Behavioral health/Mental health - Mayo Clinic Health System
Gundersen Health System Behavioral Health
Call 608.775.2287 or 1.800.362.9567 ext 52287
Behavioral Health | Gundersen Health System
La Crosse County Aging and Disability Resource Center
Call 608.785.5700
Aging and Disability Resource Center of La Crosse County
Employee Assistance Program
Ask your employer if they offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). These programs provide access to a certain number of counseling sessions with a licensed provider for free.
Find a treatment location
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - La Crosse and Vernon County
National NAMI Information and Referral Helpline 1.800.950.6264
Great Rivers 211 (24-hour crisis line and referral service)
Dial 211 or 1.800.362.8255
Text zip code to 898211
Visit their website to chat or search their database
Information and Tools
Mental Health Coalition
Roadmap to mental health
https://www.thementalhealthcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Mentalhealth_Roadmap_Credits.pdf
How to talk about mental health
https://www.thementalhealthcoalition.org/howto/#conversation
Resource library
https://www.thementalhealthcoalition.org/resources/
Roadmap and toolkit library
https://www.thementalhealthcoalition.org/knowledge/
The Mental Health Foundation
Content and resource library
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health
SAMHSA
Information on coping strategies and how to navigate treatment.
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-support
Mental Health of America
Information on types of treatment, types of professionals, what to expect for treatment, and how insurance works.
https://mhanational.org/get-help
Mental health screening tools
https://screening.mhanational.org/screening-tools/
Prevent Suicide Wisconsin
About suicide
https://www.preventsuicidewi.org/frequently-asked-questions
Loneliness Epidemic and Social Connectedness
Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation (hhs.gov) 2023 Report from US Surgeon General
Feeling Lonely or Socially Isolated? (nih.gov) Infographic from National Institute on Aging
Loneliness | How Right Now | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov)
What You Can Do to Improve Social Connectedness | CDC
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
Find a wide array of information and resources regarding suicide, including resources for suicide loss survivors.
https://afsp.org/
Better Together La Crosse
Better Together in La Crosse County (bettertogetherlacrosse.org)
Mental Health America of Wisconsin
Fact sheets
https://www.mhawisconsin.org/factsheets.aspx
Treatment
https://www.mhawisconsin.org/treatment.aspx
Recovery
https://www.mhawisconsin.org/recovery-1.aspx
Wisconsin Suicide Prevention Coalitions Directory
https://www.preventsuicidewi.org/find-a-local-coalition#La%20Crosse
Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin
Grief resources
https://www.froedtert.com/health-resources/griefwords
Prevent Suicide Wisconsin
Population specific resources (students, healthcare professionals, LGBTQIA+, men, military/veterans, first responders, older adults, workplace, people with disabilities, black/African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American, men, women)
https://www.preventsuicidewi.org/population-specific-resources
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Populations specific resources (individuals with neurodivergence, black mental health, maternal mental health, youth, disaster survivors, Native American/Indian/Indigenous/Alaska Natives, veterans and service members, loss survivors, LGBTQIA+, attempt survivors, deaf/hard of hearing/hearing loss)
https://988lifeline.org/
After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools
https://sprc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/AfteraSuicideToolkitforSchools-3.pdf
Virtual Hope Box
A free smartphone app from the National Center for Telehealth & Technology designed to help users cope, relax, distract themselves, and facilitate positive thinking. Search “virtual hope box” in your phone’s app store and download it.
Got Your Back App
A free smartphone app from Wisconsin suicide prevention nonprofit, Jacob’s SWAG Foundation, designed to help users cope with anxiety and depression. Search “Got Your Back” in your phone’s app store and download it.
Support Groups
Virtual Support Groups
Virtual/Online Support Groups that can be accessed through the following sites.
Mental Health America of Wisconsin (Suicide Loss Survivors, Alternatives to Suicide, PRISM+, Veterans and Veteran Family Members)
NAMI Virtual Peer Support Group - La Crosse
A recovery support group for people living with mental illness in which people learn from each other’s experiences, share coping strategies, and offer each other encouragement and understanding.
Mondays 5:30-7pm via Zoom
Contact La Crosse County NAMI at 608.785.9658 or info@namilacrossecounty.org or visit their website for the Zoom link
NAMI Virtual Family Support Group - La Crosse
Family support for people who have a child, parent, spouse or other family member with a mental illness.
2nd Monday of each month 6:30-8pm via Zoom
Contact La Crosse County NAMI at 608.785.9658 or info@namilacrossecounty.org or visit their website for the Zoom link
Depressed Anonymous
Peer support group for individuals who deal with depression that uses the 12 Steps as a focus and provides time for group members to share their own story.
Meets on Mondays, 5:30-6:30pm, at Franciscan Spirituality Center, 920 Market Street, La Crosse
For more information call Gayle at 608-406-7990
Survivors of Suicide
Group for friends and families of those who have lost a loved one to suicide.
Meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 7-8pm at Coulee Recovery Center 933 Ferry Street, La Crosse
Contact Pam Benson at 608-633-3135 or psbenson79@yahoo.com
La Crosse Veterans Affairs Clinic Mental Health Support Groups
Veterans Peer Support, Tuesdays 10am, call 608.784.3886 for location
PTSD Support Group, Wednesdays, call 608.784.3886 for time and location
Hope Restores Corporation Support Groups
Brothers Battling Barriers is a support group for Black men fighting barriers, resource connections, mental health and all around wellness.
Call 608.881.6418 Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm and Friday 9am-3pm for more info
Women of Melanin is a support group empowering black women of La Crosse with educational, financial, emotional, social and all around wellness support.
Call 608.881.6418 Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm and Friday 9am-3pm for more info
The Wellness Recovery Group
Open to adults in the community living with mental health issues and/or who are in substance use recovery. The group is facilitated by peer specialists who have personal lived experience with mental health and/or substance use.
Meets every Monday from 4pm-5pm in person at RAVE (1806 State St, La Crosse)
Men’s Support Group
Men’s support group at Coulee Recovery Center, focused on men’s growth, success, mental health, and wellness.
Contact Recovery Coach Roger C. Vue (rogercvue@gmail.com or 608.461.6660)
Mental Health Drop-In Centers
RAVE Recovery Avenue
Mental health crop-in center that is open to any adult in La Crosse County who is interested in support for their personal recovery from mental health and/or substance use concerns. RAVE is staffed by peer specialists who have lived experience.
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Friday 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm
Warmline operates Wednesdays 9am-4pm
Call 608.785.9615, visit their website, or walk in at 1806 State St, La Crosse
Substance Use Resources
Coulee Recovery Center
Open Monday-Wednesday 4pm-8pm, Thursday 4pm-9pm, Friday and Saturday 4pm-10pm, Sunday 12pm-8pm
Drop-In center, peer support specialists, recovery coaches, community navigator, support groups, opioid antidote distribution, fentanyl test strips
Call 608.784.4177 or visit their website or Facebook page
Vivent Health
Open Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm
Call 1.800.359.9272, visit their website, or walk in at 811 Rose St, La Crosse
Harm reduction, needle exchange program, opioid antidote distribution, fentanyl test strips
WI Region of Narcotics Anonymous
24/7 warmline to connect with a member
Call 1.800.240.0276 and press 1 to speak with a member
Peer Respite
Peer-run respites are for people experiencing increased stress or symptoms related to mental health and substance use concerns who want support and encouragement from people who have experienced similar challenges. This support and encouragement is available through an overnight stay.
The La Crosse Lighthouse
https://www.lacrosselighthouse.org/
(608) 519-1489
Iris Place (Appleton)
https://www.namifoxvalley.org/iris-place/
(920)815-3217
Monarch House (Menominee)
https://www.milkweedalliance.org/monarch-house
(715) 505-5641
Parachute House (Milwaukee)
https://www.ourspaceinc.org/home/programs/parachute-house/
(414) 877-5918
Solstice House (Madison)
https://soarcms.org/programs/solstice-house
(608) 244-5077
Resources for Suicide Loss Survivors
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) Surviving a Suicide Loss: Resource and Healing Guide
Surviving Suicide Loss Guide Book
AFSP’s Living with Suicide Loss Video Series
Hear from fellow suicide loss survivors in this video series
Tears of Love by Patti Cullen (local WI resident)
Order the book here
Learn more about the nonprofit their family started in honor of their son, Ben, who lived in the La Crosse area when he took his life. BENS Hope
AFSP’s List of Books for Survivors
Find a Suicide Loss Survivor Support Group
AFSP’s Support Group Directory
AFSP’s Healing Conversations Program
Healing Conversations is a one-time visit (phone, virtual, in-person) that connects those who have lost a loved one to suicide with trained volunteers who are also survivors of suicide loss. The goal of this connection is to help recent survivors navigate this challenging journey by offering support, connection and resources.
AFSP’s Digital Memory Quilt
Honor the memory of loved ones lost to suicide by adding a square to the digital memory quilt.
AFSP’s Living with Suicide Loss Page
Find additional information and resources for suicide loss survivors here
Suicide Awareness Voices of Education’s Stories of Hope
Read hopeful prevention stories and survivors of suicide loss stories here