Inpatient Behavioral Health
Our 34-bed Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit provides a safe, structured and healing environment to stabilize and support patients navigating an acute mental health crisis. If you or a loved one is seeking inpatient hospitalization, go to your nearest emergency room.
Getting help in a mental health crisis
Seek emergency care if you or a loved one:
- Is a danger to themselves or others
- Cannot take care of basic needs
Follow these steps to be admitted:
Go to your nearest emergency room or call 911. A doctor will evaluate you and determine if you meet admission criteria for the Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit. You cannot admit yourself or a family member directly to our inpatient unit in La Crosse.
Inpatient mental health services
Located in La Crosse, Wis., our 34-bed Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit serves adolescents and adults in distinct, healing and patient-centered spaces.
Our coordinated team of mental health professionals creates individualized treatment plans and therapeutic programming to nurture the whole person — mind, body and spirit. Alongside every patient, we help them build the skills and resilience needed for improved daily functioning and a confident return to their communities and outpatient support systems.
Our experienced treatment team includes:
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Nurses
- Social workers
- Occupational and recreational therapists
- Behavioral health specialists
- Chaplains
What to expect during an inpatient stay
Gundersen Inpatient Behavioral Health provides 24/7 care and supervision for adolescents and adults who need the most intensive level of behavioral health support. If you or a loved one is considering inpatient psychiatric care, you may be wondering what to expect. Browse our patient and family resources below.
A safe place for healing
We are committed to providing a safe, secure and healing environment for all patients, visitors and staff. We do not tolerate violent or aggressive behavior of any kind, including:
- Abusive language
- Physical assault
- Property destruction
- Sexual language
- Threats
- Verbal harassment
Thank you for helping us create a safe place for healing.
Unit location and layout
Our Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit is a separate building from our La Crosse Hospital, with the visitor entrance located at 1901 Seventh St. S., La Crosse.
Inside are three primary units: one for adolescents (ages 13-18 and still in school) and two for adults (ages 18+ and out of school).
Each unit features:
- Dining room
- Family and visitor room
- Group room
- Large lounge area
- Laundry room
- Nurse’s station staffed 24/7
- Relaxation room (adults) or library (adolescents)
Visiting hours and guidelines
We welcome and encourage visitors daily from 12 (noon) to 6 p.m.
Please pre-schedule your 30-minute visit by calling Inpatient Behavioral Health at (608) 775-3523. All visits are held in our family rooms. Children under age 16 may visit; however, children must be supervised by an adult.
Phone calls
To speak with a patient on either of the Adult Units, please call (608) 775-3523 between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
To speak to a patient on the Adolescent Unit, please call (608) 775-3897 during the following hours:
- 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
- 12 to 1 p.m.
- 4:30 to 6 p.m.
- 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Adolescents may only use the phone during the hours specified above to encourage participation in unit programming. However, parents may call at any time to receive updates from staff.
Daily programming
Patients are invited to programming opportunities throughout the day which include varying types of group and individual therapies and leisure activities, such as:
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Circle of support
- Courtyard
- Creative self-expression
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Food and mood
- Healthy lifestyles
- Group therapy
- Peer to peer
- Pet therapy
- Recreation room
- Safety planning
- Sensory group
- Spiritual explorations
- Stress management/relaxation
Patient comfort and belongings
We want your stay to be as comfortable as possible. To decrease stress and anxiety during your stay, comfort items are available upon request, such as:
- Earplugs
- Essential oils
- Journal
- Music or soothing sounds in your room
- Relaxation videos
- Sensory tools and stress balls
- Warm blankets
- Yoga mat
Patient belongings
You may bring the following personal items to Inpatient Behavioral Health:
- Shoes without laces or large buckles
- Three sets of clothing (no strings or hoods, please)
- Toiletries
- Up to two comfort items in adolescent rooms, such as a pillow, blanket and/or stuffed animal that can be laundered
Please leave the following items at home:
- Cell phones, smart watches, tablets and computers (you may use the phone on the unit to make calls)
- Clothing with hoods or strings
- Clothing with school information, last name or other identifiable information
- Shoes with laces or large buckles
- Tobacco products
Family resources
For families and caregivers, we offer a variety of resources to help you adjust to the emotions and stressors of loving someone diagnosed with a mental illness.
After discharge from Inpatient Behavioral Health, we also offer a program called Caring Partners. This program is designed for patients and their family members to help support recovery and self-care. Ask our staff for more information or to sign up.
See inside our healing space
Our approach to care and recovery
Our compassionate team is committed to keeping you safe and being supportive as you work to recover. To help you meet your goals, we will work with you to:
- Practice new and healthy coping skills
- Learn about your symptoms and benefits of treatment
- Receive and accept feedback from others
- Gain new insights into your situation
- Develop a discharge plan that includes outpatient support and resources as you transition to your home and community
FAQs about inpatient behavioral health treatment
Do you have questions about inpatient behavioral health? We are here to help. Browse our frequently asked questions.
When should I seek inpatient mental health treatment at a hospital?
Inpatient Behavioral Health is designed to stabilize individuals who have an acute mental health crisis, including those who:
- Are a danger to themselves or others
- Cannot take care of basic needs
Some of the mental health conditions we treat include:
- New or worsening thoughts of suicide
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Severe depression and/or anxiety
- Substance dependency that occurs alongside mental health concerns*
*Inpatient Behavioral Health is not a detox unit and does not provide treatment specific to substance use disorders.
How can I check myself into a psychiatric unit?
Go to your nearest emergency room or call 911.
To be admitted to the Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit in La Crosse, you must be screened by a physician to determine the appropriate level of care and address any serious medical concerns.
What can I expect during a stay at Gundersen's Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit?
If you or a loved one is considering inpatient care, here is what you can expect:
Admission
When you are admitted to the Inpatient Behavioral Unit, a registered nurse or certified nursing assistant will check you in. They will have you change into comfortable hospital scrubs, take your vitals, complete necessary paperwork and introduce you to your unit and staff.
Treatment plan
After admission, our team of mental health professionals will work with you to create a treatment plan. You will be encouraged to participate in establishing goals while you are hospitalized. We will review progress toward your goals often and make adjustments, as needed, to help you return to your outpatient support systems as soon as possible.
Daily schedule
Based on your individual treatment plan, you will attend programming throughout the day which includes various group and individual therapies, leisure activities and ad hoc appointments (e.g., social work, substance dependence, spiritual care). A behavioral health provider will also see you daily to complete a psychiatric assessment and determine your readiness for discharge.
You will have three meals and two snacks daily, in addition to personal downtime. You may visit with family or friends in one of our Family Rooms; visitors must pre-schedule a half-hour visit by calling (608) 775-3523.
Preparing for discharge
Throughout your stay, we will work with you to create a discharge plan. This plan will outline your next steps after you leave Inpatient Behavioral Health, including referrals for continued therapy and other supportive resources as you transition to your community.
How long do most patients stay in Inpatient Behavioral Health?
The length of stay in our Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit varies from person to person. Our care team will work alongside you to establish goals during your hospital stay. Every day, we will discuss your progress and assess your readiness for discharge.
Can family members or friends be involved in my care?
Yes. We encourage patients to include their support systems in their care, and we welcome visitors (see our ‘visitor hours and guidelines’ for details).
At the time of admission, we ask patients with whom they would like us to share updates regarding their hospitalization. We can share information with up to two support people. For adolescent patients, parents/legal guardians are prioritized. Adult patients can choose to opt out of unit staff sharing information with family or friends.
Will my insurance cover inpatient treatment costs?
We recommend that you contact your insurance company directly to understand your out-of-pocket expenses. We will provide current patients with a Cost of Services handout, upon request. Billing for Inpatient Behavioral Health services occurs like any other inpatient hospitalization.
More mental health services
Adult PHP services
Our Adult Partial Hospitalization Program offers intensive group-based therapy and support for individuals, age 18 and older, who are out of high school. Participants return home to their families at night while joining the structured day program.
Mental Health Day Treatment Program
The Mental Health Day Treatment Program is for adults with chronic or severe mental health diagnoses seeking group therapy. Topics include socialization, life skills and wellness support. Please call for a referral.
Outpatient behavioral health
Our team of behavioral health providers offers support when life feels overwhelming. Outpatient therapy is available for children, adolescents and adults, all conveniently located close to home.
Related articles
Adolescent mental health: Your questions answered
A closer look inside Gundersen’s Inpatient Behavioral Health facility
Gundersen adds inpatient mental health beds