Survey: Mental health, substance use top priorities in central Wisconsin

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Aspirus Riverview Hospital has released its 2024-27 Community Health Needs Assessment, outlining mental health and substance use as its top priorities over the next three years.

The assessment, a requirement under the Affordable Care Act for nonprofit hospitals, was developed through a collaborative process involving the Wood County Health Department, Marshfield Clinic Health System and more than 3,000 community members.

The report identifies mental health and substance use as the most pressing health challenges facing the Wisconsin Rapids area, a region with elevated rates of depression, overdose deaths and alcohol-related hospitalizations.

“We’re addressing what the community told us matters most,” said Tara Dreger, director of System Community Health Improvement and Equity at Aspirus. “These are complex, long-standing issues, but by using strong data and listening closely to our communities, we can implement real strategies that make a difference.”

The assessment highlights stark disparities in care and outcomes. In Wood County, the number of self-harm emergency visits by youth more than doubled between 2017 and 2022. Additionally, nearly one in four adults reported binge or heavy drinking, and opioid-related deaths rose in recent years.

Aspirus Riverview’s implementation strategy will take into account underlying social factors such as poverty, access to care and transportation. However, hospital officials noted that while issues like financial stability and housing are critically important, they fall outside the system’s core expertise. Instead, Aspirus plans to partner with local agencies addressing those needs.

One example of Aspirus’ community-based approach is the Fruit and Veggie Prescription Program. Initially launched in Wausau, the program has expanded across Aspirus’ multi-state system, allowing patients to redeem produce vouchers at markets near their homes, even if they received care at a different location.

“Part of our mission is to be an extension beyond the hospital walls,” Dreger said. “We’re partnering with our clinical teams and community groups to ensure patients have the support they need where they live, work and play.”

The full report and upcoming implementation strategy will be made available to the public through the hospital’s website.