Addressing need for mental health care, Rogers to open new Wausau clinic
Meeting a community demand for mental health and addiction treatment, Rogers Behavioral Health is excited to announce plans for a new clinic in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin.
The clinic is set to open at 500 N. 3rd St. in fall 2024. Rogers met with a variety of community organization leaders, who say there is a clear and unmet demand for behavioral health services in the Wausau area, particularly for substance use treatment and outpatient services.
“We at Rogers listen and respond to communities’ needs, making sure we deliver the mental health services and addiction care that will support the people we serve. Patients are our first priority. Ensuring their voices are heard, along with community support, allows us to bring an integrated response in achieving mental health wellness,” says Cindy Meyer, Rogers’ president and CEO. “Our mission is to provide highly effective treatment to help people reach their full potential for health and well-being.”
The Wausau clinic’s offerings will include Mental Health and Addiction Recovery and Primary Behavioral Health partial hospitalization programs (PHP) and intensive outpatient programs (IOP), as well Outpatient Psychiatric Services for evaluation and medication management.
During the nationwide opioid crisis, Rogers’ care can be lifesaving. A recent report shows fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is the number one cause of death for people ages 25 to 54 in Wisconsin. With our Mental Health and Addiction Recovery services, Rogers is uniquely positioned to provide integrated treatment of addiction and co-occurring challenges such as trauma, depression, eating disorders, anxiety, and OCD.
A new and expanding offering at Rogers, Primary Behavioral Health services are designed for people with more than one mental health disorder. Each patient’s treatment plan is tailored to their specific symptoms such as lack of motivation, avoiding obligations and activities, trouble controlling emotions, difficulty managing negative thoughts, challenges with sleep, and issues maintaining healthy relationships.
PHP and IOP treatment are levels of care between traditional outpatient counseling services and residential and inpatient care. IOP and PHP typically meet for three to six hours a day on weekdays for four to eight weeks.
Rogers’ research and surveys show the Wausau area lacks that level of care provided in PHP and IOP. This expansion addresses that community need, allowing Rogers to bring its evidence-based treatment to more patients.
“We’re pleased to have enthusiastic support for Rogers expanding in the Wausau market,” says Brian Kay, Rogers’ chief strategy officer. “We want to bring our high-quality, effective care to as many patients as possible. A person’s location should not prevent them from receiving the services they need to live more fulfilling lives. Wausau is an amazing community, and we look forward to being a part of it.”
The new Wausau clinic is made possible in part by donations to Rogers Behavioral Health Foundation. Generous donors include Walter Alexander Foundation, Judd Alexander Foundation, Macdonald Foundation, Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, Dudley Foundation, Robert & Mary Jo Hartwig, and B.A. & Ester Greenheck Foundation.
“The B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation recognizes the critical need for accessible and affordable mental health services,” says Pam Jackson, CEO of the B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation. “We are proud to support Rogers Behavioral Health in providing individuals with the resources they need to thrive. Our hope is that this will positively impact our community by removing some of the barriers to mental healthcare.”
About Rogers Behavioral Health
Rogers Behavioral Health is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit provider of mental health and addiction services. Rogers offers evidence-based treatment for adults, children, and adolescents with depression and other mood disorders, eating disorders, addiction, OCD and anxiety disorders, trauma, and PTSD. In addition to locations in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Washington, Rogers operates three inpatient behavioral health hospitals, 17 residential programs and eight centers offering PHP and IOP treatment in Wisconsin. Outpatient services for medication management and psychiatric evaluations are offered virtually and in person in Wisconsin.
The System also includes Ladish Co. Foundation Center, home to Rogers Research Center, the Rogers Foundation, and the Ronald McDonald Family Room®. In addition, Rogers leads the nationwide WISE coalition with the goal of eliminating stigma related to mental health and substance use disorders. Learn more at rogersbh.org.