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Community Support Program (CSP)

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The Community Support Program (CSP) is a long-term treatment and rehabilitation service for adults with serious mental illness.

With support, people with serious mental illnesses can live very fulfilling lives. The goal of CSP is to provide comprehensive services including supporting psychotherapy, medication and symptom management, psychiatric care, crisis intervention, daily living skill building, and vocational support.

To be eligible, individuals must have Medicaid, qualify through a functional screen assessment, and be appropriate for psychosocial rehabilitation services.

For more information or to make a referral, please call 608-269-8600

What are Serious Mental Illnesses?

With early and consistent treatment, people with serious mental illnesses can manage their conditions, overcome challenges, and lead meaningful, productive lives.

Mental illnesses are disorders that affect a person’s thinking, mood, and/or behavior —and they can range from mild to severe. According to the National Institute on Mental Health, nearly one-in-five adults live with a mental illness.

A mental illness that interferes with a person’s life and ability to function is called a serious mental illness (SMI). With the right treatment, people with SMI can live productive and enjoyable lives.

There are many kinds of serious mental illnesses. Common ones include

  • Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes intense shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. People have manic episodes in which they feel extremely happy or euphoric, and energized. Usually, they also have depressive episodes in which they feel deeply sad and have low energy.
  • Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental disorders. Symptoms vary from person to person, but may include sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, pessimism, irritability, worthlessness, and fatigue. These symptoms interfere with a person’s ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy their life.
  • Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that causes people to interpret reality abnormally. People may experience hallucinations, delusions, extremely disordered thinking and a reduced ability to function in their daily life.

Despite common misperceptions, having an SMI is not a choice, a weakness, or a character flaw. It is not something that just “passes” or can be “snapped out of” with willpower. The specific causes are unknown, but various factors can increase someone’s risk for mental illness including, family history, brain chemistry, and significant life events such as experiencing a trauma or death of a loved one.

OUR MISSION: To support individuals and families to live safely and independently!

The mission of the Monroe County Department of Human Services is to serve people, with an emphasis on Monroe County residents, by empowering participant responsibility and choice toward safe and independent lifestyles through the delivery of services in response to assessed needs.           

We intend to achieve this mission through providing public awareness, resource and referral information, economic support, and direct provision of services in a fiscally responsible manner.