Mental Illness is not a choice. It is a disease of the brain that may cause disturbances in a person's thinking, feeling, moods and ability to relate to other people. It can reduce a person's ability for coping with ordinary life struggles and place tremendous burdens on family members and loved ones. Common mental health diagnoses include depression, bipolar disorder (manic depression), schizophrenia and anxiety disorders. People of any age, race or gender can be affected by mental illness. Please visit the National Association for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) or the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) websites to learn more.
Adult Mental Health Services
Some programs may have income and documentation of disability requirements. Information and referral to appropriate resources is available by calling the intake worker at 507-359-6500 or toll free at (800) 450-8246.
Case Management
Brown County Human Services Adult Mental Health staff provide case management services to adults with serious and persistent mental illness in Brown County. Assistance is given in obtaining mental health, social services, financial assistance, medical, legal vocational, housing and other services designed to assist individuals to remain in the community. Some programs may have income and documentation of disability requirements.
Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services (ARMHS)
Mental Health services which are rehabilitative enabling the recipient to develop and enhance independent living and community intervention skills along with medication education when these abilities are impaired by the symptoms of mental illness. These services are funded by Medical Assistance and may be accessed without a referral.
Adult Foster Care
Family or corporate foster care offers supervised housing with supportive services tailored to the individual's needs which may lead to permanent housing.
Employment Services
Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is an evidenced-based model of supported employment to assist people with serious mental illness find and maintain employment. An Employment Counselor works with individuals to find appropriate jobs, and provides ongoing supportive service to help them keep jobs.
Outpatient Treatment Services
- New Ulm Medical Center (507) 217-5000 or (507) 217-5168
- Southern Minnesota Behavioral Health (507) 354-3181 offers a sliding fee scale for services.
- Eunoia Family Resource Center (507) 359-2080
- Hoffmann Counseling Services (507) 484-2400
Pre-PetitionScreening For Commitment
When a person has behaviors which are threatening to themselves or others as a result of their mental illness, chemical dependency or developmental disability, Brown County Human Services may be asked to assist. Preparation of a pre-petition screening report is submitted to the County Attorney's office with a recommendation for various options of treatment and/or intervention. MN Statue 253B (Link)
Bridge on Center
Provides a safe and secure setting for adults with a severe and persistent mental illness living in the Brown County area. Programming focuses on life and leisure skills, educational programs, recreational-social activities, consumer volunteer opportunities in the Brown County area and individual consumer participation in Bridge on Center and/or Local Advisory Council on mental health. All programming facilitates consumer integration into the community and enhances the likelihood of continued independence in the community.
- Bridge on Center Website (Link)
Mobile Crisis Team
The South Central Mobile Crisis Team is available 24/7 and is able to respond to all counties within our region including Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Rice, Sibley, and Watonwan. The mobile team is able to meet with people that are experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis.
