Mental Health

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or chat with them online. In an emergency, call 911.

Adverse Childhood Experiences
Mental Health Matters
Resources & Services
Social Belonging & Connection
Technology & Mental Health
A group of four individuals standing together looking at the sun.

Mental health affects our emotions, thoughts, and how we connect with others.

Mental health and physical health are closely connected and equally important.

A lack of social connection is associated with an increased risk of:

  • Premature death

  • Heart disease

  • Stroke

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Dementia

Social connection boosts individual health and strengthens communities, but many people in Wood County struggle with mental health issues linked to loneliness and isolation. Increasing access to mental health services and building connections can help address mental health needs for everyone.

Mental Health Matters Team

A collaboration of community organizations and volunteers that addresses community mental health. Poor mental health among community members, stigma, and the lack of access to mental health resources have been identified as major health issues that Wood County residents face. Our Community Health assessment identified these findings, collected through multiple methods, including a community survey, one-on-ones, community meetings, and focus groups.

"Email and phone icons representing contact Healthy People Wood County.
Wood County 2025-20257 Community Health Improvement Plan Cover

2024-2027 Community Health Improvement Plan Mental Health Goal Summary:

  1. Address the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on youth.

  2. Reduce social isolation and loneliness.

  3. Reduce recreational technology use among youth to improve mental health.

Find Out More
Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) Icon

Goal 1: Address the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on youth.

  • Potential events that occur during childhood and adolescence (ages 0-17) that can be highly traumatic. These events can harm a person's health and well-being for the rest of their life.

    Trauma & Toxic Stress

    • Find out more about ACEs, trauma, and how they relate to toxic stress here.

    • Learn about trauma and violence here.

    Preventing ACEs

    • Find out how you can help to prevent and reduce ACEs here.

  • CW Solutions

    • Find out more about the services & programs offered here.

    Five for Families

    • Find out how families can use their strengths during difficult times by exploring five key areas here.

    UW Extension

    • ACEs-Educators Resources

      • Find resources for educators on the impacts of childhood adversity and toxic stress on health, and steps communities are taking to address it here.

    • Available Classes

      • Find classes about parenting and family relationships here.

    • Raising Caring Kids

      • To find articles and videos that can help parents of 1st to 5th graders learn various social and emotional learning skills click here.

Increase social belonging icon.

Goal 2: Reduce social isolation and loneliness.

  • The Mental Health Coalition

    Seize the Awkward

    • Find tips to help make starting a conversation easier here.

    Wisconsin Coalition for Social Connectedness

    • Find resources, support, and ideas for connection here.

    • Visit The Collect Affect to explore ODC’s opportunities for community events, connection, and support here.

Reduce reactional technology use among youth

Goal 3: Reduce recreational technology use among youth to improve mental health.

  • American Academy of Pediatrics

    • Family Media Plan

      • Discover the importance of creating a family media plan and learn how to get started here.

    Common Sense Media

    • Find valuable resources for family engagement in digital citizenship here.

    Digital Citizenship & Media Literacy

    • Find out more about what digital citizenship is and why it matters here.

    Media & Youth Mental Health

    • Access research, tips, and tricks for parents addressing media use here.

    • Explore guidance, resources, and tools to support youth mental health here.

    Online Safety

    • Find resources for students, educators, parents, and administrators to make informed decisions about technology use here.

    • Listen to the Protect Kids Online Podcast here.

    NetSmartz

    • Find online safety education and resources here.

    Surgeon General’s Advisory

    • Learn more about the Surgeon General's Advisory on social media and youth mental health, and understand the best science available on public health challenges and possible solutions here.

    Smart Start-US Cellular & Screen Sanity

    • Find resources, quick guides, and a toolkit to help your family build better digital habits and a healthier relationship with technology here.

  • Local Data

    Wood

    State Data

    Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey

    • Discover how social media shapes Wisconsin youth's health behaviors here.

    National Data

    Pew Research Center

    • Find out more about how children use and engage with digital technologies here.

Mental Health Resources & Services

An outline icon of Wood County featuring a persons head highlighting a brain and a caring heart symbol.

This section provides resources and support for mental health challenges. Click the arrows and links to learn more.

    • Wood County Services

      • To find out more about the services and programs offered by Wood County Human Services, click here.

    • Mid-State Independent Living Choices (MILC)

      • For Peer Support, Mental Health, or AODA Recovery, click here.

Question, Persuade, Refer icon with speech bubbles.

    • Training to educate community residents, health care providers, and educators about suicide prevention conversation techniques.

      • To locate an instructor near you, click here.

        • Hover over the In-Person Training tab,

        • Click Find an Instructor, and fill out the information to find an instructor near you.

An icon depicting half a heart and half a brain, shaped like a heart and featuring a bandaid over one half.

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

    • The 988 Lifeline is available 24/7/365. Your conversations are free and confidential. To find ut more click here.

    • For resources and support after a suicide loss, click here.

    Prevent Suicide Wisconsin

    • Find resources, learn more about suicide prevention, and how you can get involved, here.

    • Wisconsin Suicide Prevention Plan: Strategies for Action & Hope

      • Find statewide data on suicide prevention, best practices, available resources, and recommended steps to take here.

    Suicide Warning Signs

    • Find out more about youth and adult warning signs of suicide here.

    American Foundations for Suicide Prevention

    • You matter! For support and steps to take after a suicide attempt, click here.

    • Find information and resource for supporting a loved one after a suicide attempt here.

    • Click heretofind resources for support related to suicide loss.

An icon depicting three individuals held in a hand with a small heart symbolizes other helpful resources.

  • CDC Mental Health

    • Learn more about mental health and find resources here.

    HelpGuide.org

    • Discover additional resources and information on how to cope with grief and loss here.

    NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Portage/Wood Counties

    • NAMI offers support, education, and advocacy for individuals affected by mental illness. To find out more, click here.

    • Find a peer support group near you here.

    SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

    • Find treatment options, new prevention strategies, valuable research, funding opportunities, and tools for emergency preparedness related to substance abuse and mental health here.

    Mental Health America

    • Find resources for mental health assessments, information on various conditions, support tools, and advocacy for mental health awareness here.

    Mental Health First Aid

    • Find out more how you can learn to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders, and gain the skills to provide initial help to someone in crisis here.

    The Mental Health Coalition

    • Find resources to gain insights into mental health, assist someone you care about, gain coping strategies, and find support here.

    Wisconsin Department of Health Services

    • Learn more about mental illnesses, their signs, symptoms, and support resources here.

    Youth Risk Behavior Survey

    • Learn more about the behaviors of Wood County youth around mental health, sense of belonging, and screen use in this 2023 Wood County YRBS Summary, here.

*This webpage is a reference tool and does not cover all mental health services. It is not a substitute for professional advice. If you are in crisis, call 988 or 911. For specific support, reach out to healthcare providers, clinics, or support organizations that meet your needs.

Read Wood County's Plan