Student mental health walk-in clinic opens in Green Bay

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Nearly one in five children ages 3 to 17 have been diagnosed with a mental, emotional, or behavioral health condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Family issues, increased stress and pressure, and exposure to violence are just a few of the reasons for growing anxiety among kids.

To reduce the mental health care access barrier for students, Children’s Wisconsin opened a mental health walk-in clinic in Green Bay.

Braelyn Grinwald is a clinical supervisor at Children’s Wisconsin in Green Bay. She said this clinic is open to any students in any county experiencing urgent mental health concerns.

“Anytime that they’re struggling or need something that day, even if they have an outpatient therapist, let’s say, but they don’t have an appointment for a week or so, you can definitely come in,” Grinwald said.

Mental health help for students is a growing need. According to a Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Youth Risk Behavior survey, more than half of students reported experiencing anxiety.

Thirty-five percent reported experiencing depression. Nearly 21% reported non-suicidal self-harm.

The first Kohl’s-supported mental health walk-in clinic opened in Kenosha in 2024. There is also a walk-in clinic on the Children’s Wisconsin Milwaukee Hospital campus.

Grinwald said since the first Children’s Wisconsin walk-in clinic for mental health opened in 2022, these urgent mental health services have supported over 3,400 kids.

“That really screams a need for support, for something that you don’t need an appointment for, and to have someone to talk to on the spot,” Grinwald said.

Christina Gingle is the associate director of pupil services at Green Bay Area Public Schools.

She said the district has partnered with Children’s Wisconsin walk-in mental health clinic.

“Over half of our students are reporting anxiety. So, when we think about the prevalence of the mental health concerns of our students and the potential impact, it’s so incredibly important that we have more resources that are easily accessible for our students,” Gingle said.

Gingle said the district has other resources to help reduce the mental health care access barrier for students.

“We have contracted with Care Solace, which is a mental health navigation system that really comes alongside our parents and our students to help them get connected with care, as well as offering school-based mental health now in 22 of our buildings,” Gingle said.

Children’s Wisconsin offers a therapy session, safety evaluation and support in connecting families to long-term resources in the community.

The clinic provides continuing support until those long-term resources are in place. Grinwald said it’s great to have this measure in place for students to help prevent a tragedy.

“Honestly, I feel honored to be that lifeline and to support youth and their families in some of the most difficult times of their entire lives when they may not know where else to turn,” Grinwald said.

The most common needs seen at Children’s Wisconsin’s mental health walk-in clinics have included anxiety, depression, trauma concerns and school avoidance.

With the new clinic open in Green Bay, help is closer to home for families in Brown County and beyond.