— As mental health needs continue to rise across central Minnesota, the regional crisis hotline currently used by residents in Wadena and surrounding communities was facing an uncertain future.
The long-standing crisis line and referral service, established in 1988 in response to a rise in teen suicides in the region, was at risk of shutting down after 2025 due to a lack of funding. When Northern Pines Mental Health Center (NPMHC) learned the service might not continue, the organization stepped in to ensure the hotline would remain available to those in crisis.
Effective Jan. 1, 2026, Northern Pines has acquired the crisis line and referral services, preserving uninterrupted access to emergency mental health support throughout the region.
For individuals who call the crisis line, the experience will remain familiar in some ways. The phone number — 218-828-4357 — and hours of operation will stay the same, with the line staffed 24 hours a day, year-round. What will change, according to NPMHC Executive Director Laura Vaughn, is how quickly callers can be connected to care.
“Making that first call during a mental health or substance use crisis is often the hardest step,” Vaughn said. “With Northern Pines operating the crisis line, callers experiencing an emergency can be connected within minutes to a qualified mental health care provider.”
Previously, callers were limited to the resources available through the crisis line and referral service, but now, Vaughn said, “Everyone in the region, not just Northern Pines clients, can get connected to the mental health care they need.”
Executive Director Laura Vaughn said NPMHC continues to expand upon the traditional model of meeting community mental health needs through innovative ways, and crisis services is just one example.
Contributed photo / Laura Vaughn
Vaughn says under Northern Pines, the crisis line will be directly integrated with clinical services, allowing for faster coordination, follow-up support and a clearer path to ongoing care. Callers seeking resources will be assisted by NPMHC’s care coordination team, which will help connect them to appropriate services.
Northern Pines Mental Health Center serves communities across Todd, Wadena, Cass, Aitkin, Crow Wing and Morrison counties, with locations in Wadena, Brainerd, Little Falls, Long Prairie and Staples. In addition to operating the crisis line, NPMHC provides a range of mental health services, including a mobile crisis response team available 24/7, an urgent care center for walk-in mental health emergencies, outpatient mental health treatment and care coordination services.
Vaughn said the acquisition aligns with NPMHC’s long-term vision of ensuring there is “no wrong door” for individuals seeking help. She noted that providing crisis services is a natural expansion beyond the traditional community mental health model.
“Our goal is to make sure people get the help they need when they need it,” Vaughn said, remembering her time as a clinical trainee in 2012 when she volunteered as an overnight crisis line staff member. She heard firsthand the pain and urgency of people in severe mental health distress.
“I heard the turmoil of people who felt trapped by overwhelming circumstances,” Vaughn said. “Helping callers see that there was a way forward was deeply rewarding for both of us, and I will never forget how meaningful it was that they found the courage to reach out for help.”
More information about Northern Pines Mental Health Center and its services is available at
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Nicole Stracek is an award-winning journalist known for her insightful and impactful storytelling across the region. As the community editor for the Wadena Pioneer Journal, she covers everything from local government to breaking news to human-interest features that highlight the heartbeat of Wadena. Nicole can be reached at 218-631-2561 or nstracek@wadenapj.com.