A beacon of hope for behavioral health in Southeast Wisconsin
- kalinmckean
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin adults quietly carry the weight of mental health challenges. Behind every statistic is a person — a mother, a son, a friend, a coworker — doing their best to navigate a season of darkness.
In moments of uncertainty and fear, one promise remains: our care teams will be there with open arms, compassionate support and a commitment to healing.
A new inpatient unit at Ascension St. Francis
Communities in Southeast Wisconsin faced a critical shortage: nearly 150 inpatient beds were needed for those experiencing a mental health crisis.
With a $10 million commitment, Ascension Wisconsin is working to expand the inpatient behavioral health unit at Ascension St. Francis from 25 beds to 62. The new, state-of-the-art unit will occupy the seventh floor of the hospital.
“With the $10 million expansion that’s taking place, this allows us to be a beacon to some of the most challenged patients within our communities and hopefully give them a little bit of light at the end of the road,” said Jonathon Matuszewski, Hospital President, Ascension St. Francis and Franklin.
New spaces at Ascension All Saints
At Ascension All Saints, behavioral health services are also entering a new chapter. Programs are transitioning from the Wisconsin Avenue Campus to the main Spring Street Hospital, bringing services together in one central, accessible location.
The adolescent partial hospitalization program, outpatient programs and clinic services are moving into updated, thoughtfully-designed spaces that increase access and provide additional resources for patients and their families.
“We are trying to create environments that feel safe, close to home and allow people to get the help they need,” said Angie Wisniewski, Vice President of the Ascension Wisconsin Behavioral Health Service Line.