Crisis Services: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is here and ready to help.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential support for anyone experiencing a suicidal, mental health, and/or substance use crisis.
People of all ages who need help for themselves or a loved one can call, text, or chat 24/7.
988 Day is September 8. Read the proclamation from Governor Tony Evers (PDF)
About 988 in Wisconsin
- Wisconsinites who use 988 will connect with the 988 Wisconsin Lifeline, an in-state service with trained counselors who answer calls, texts, and chats. If the 988 Wisconsin Lifeline is unable to respond quickly, contacts are automatically routed to a backup support center, which may be located in another state.
- 988 Wisconsin Lifeline counselors are trained to reduce stress, provide emotional support, and connect people with local resources.
- Use of the 988 Wisconsin Lifeline is available at no cost to Wisconsin residents. Additional care or intervention that may result from contact with the 988 Wisconsin Lifeline may come with a cost.
- The 988 Wisconsin Lifeline is not able to send an in-person response directly. An in-person response requires a transfer to another service and could involve law enforcement.
- Calls, texts, and chats with the 988 Wisconsin Lifeline are kept confidential between the person and counselor, unless there is imminent danger for the person or others.
About the 988 Wisconsin Lifeline
- The 988 Wisconsin Lifeline is Wisconsin’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline service, answering calls, texts, and chats that come from residents throughout the state.
- It is operated by Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin, an agency based in Green Bay with trained counselors serving throughout the state.
- The counselors at the 988 Wisconsin Lifeline are trained to listen and support people through their distress with a focus on de-escalation and coping skills.
- The 988 Wisconsin Lifeline has some bilingual counselors and staff. Third party interpreters for over 240 languages and dialects are available 24/7 for calls to 988.
- The 988 Wisconsin Lifeline answers and responds to calls, texts, and chats as quickly as possible to minimize wait times between initial contact and counseling.
- The 988 Wisconsin Lifeline is supported and funded by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
What happens when you contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline?
If you or someone you know is in imminent danger, call 911, not 988.
Frequently asked questions
There are many questions about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and how it works. For a consistently updated list of questions and answers, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's 988 Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
Promotional tools
Please use these materials to ensure there is a clear understanding about what the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is and how it works in Wisconsin.
The second annual 988 Day is on September 8, 2025!
This growing tradition raises awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and the continued need for behavioral health support, with each year focusing on a different theme.
The 2025 theme is “Compassionate Help. Anytime. Anywhere.” This theme conveys the heart of what the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is all about—empathy, accessibility, and reliability. The more than 15,000 counselors working across the 988 network nationwide continue to help reduce barriers and stigma around seeking support for mental health challenges, substance use concerns, emotional distress, or loneliness.
988 Day highlights how communities, organizations, and people supporting behavioral health are creating positive buzz around the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in their own fun and creative ways to raise awareness across the United States.
How to get involved in 988 Day
Proclamation. Use this template (Word) to get your city council, village board, town board, and/or school district to declare September 8, 2025, as 988 Day in your community. You can also share the 988 Day proclamation from Governor Evers (PDF).
Social media. Use the following social media post to celebrate 988 Day in Wisconsin on September 8, 2025, with the hashtag #988Day. Select an image to download the full resolution file. Captions are provided below.
Struggling with your mental health, feeling overwhelmed, or just need someone to talk to? You’re not alone, and you don’t have to go through it alone.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is here for you anytime, anywhere. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. #988Day #988Lifeline #WisconsinLifeline #988WisconsinLifeline
Some days feel heavier than others. Whether it’s school, relationships, anxiety, or something you can’t quite explain, 988 is here for you.
Text, call, or chat with a real person who listens without judgment. You don’t have to be in crisis to reach out. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. #988Day #988Lifeline #WisconsinLifeline #988WisconsinLifeline
You don’t have to wait for a crisis to reach out. From everyday stress to the moments that feel too heavy to carry alone, support is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. #988Day #988Lifeline #WisconsinLifeline #988WisconsinLifeline
School announcement. Use the text below as part of a school announcement.
Today, September 8, is 988 Day. 988 Day is a day of action meant to bring awareness about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a free service available 24/7 by phone, text, and chat. You can reach out for any reason: when you’re struggling with your mental health, feeling overwhelmed by schoolwork, arguing with friends, or just need someone to vent to. To learn more or to connect with a skilled counselor for judgment-free support, visit 988Wisconsin.org.
Teams/Zoom backgrounds. Use these images as backgrounds on Teams and Zoom.
- Solid background - peach
- Solid background - lilac
- Speech bubbles background-lilac
- Speech bubbles background -spring green
- Speech bubbles background -powder blue
Looking for more 988 Day promotional tools? Use the online ads, posters, radio ads, social media posts, and videos in the Wisconsin 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline promotional toolkit found on this page and the items in the national 988 Day toolkit.
Use the logos below to promote the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in Wisconsin. Send an email to dhsdcts@dhs.wisconsin.gov if you have questions or concerns about these logos.
Download the 988 Wisconsin logo. Also available to download in Spanish, or download in Hmong.
A variety of animated display ads for website advertising platforms are available in the following sizes: 160x600, 300x50, 300x250, 300x600, 320x50, and 728x90. These ads are available as zip files for HTML5 website ads and as MP4 video files. The design is the same for both formats with a "learn more" button on the ad. Send an email to dhsdcts@dhs.wisconsin.gov to get the files for these ads.
Several billboard designs are available. Send an email to dhsdcts@dhs.wisconsin.gov to get the files for the billboard designs.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - 24/7 Call, Text, Chat, P-03307
A general information handout in English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF) about 988 in Wisconsin
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Substance Use Support, P-03307A
Answers to common questions in English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF) about the support 988 provides for substance use concerns
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Students, Parents, and School Staff: Frequently Asked Questions, P-03307B (PDF)
Answers to common questions from K-12 students, parents, and school staff about the support 988 provides for young people.
Why might the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline utilize any sort of intervention that may involve police? (PDF)
A handout from Vibrant Emotional Health, the national administrator of 988, that explains when and why a 988 counselor may contact emergency services, which may include a police response, for assistance
988 and Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs)/Emergency Communication Centers (ECCs), P-03584 (PDF)
A handout in English for first responders that details the collaboration and goals of 988 and PSAPs/ECCS
911-988 Interoperability in Wisconsin, P-03704 (PDF)
An overview in English of 911-988 interoperability standards set by NENA The 9-1-1 Association as they apply to Wisconsin
Youth posters
Three youth poster designs in English are available in vertical and horizontal orientations. Send an email to dhsdcts@dhs.wisconsin.gov for any of the posters with crop marks for professional printing.
:30 script
Sometimes, life’s challenges leave you feeling alone. We all need someone who understands and listens without judgement. That's what the 988 Wisconsin Lifeline is for. 988 is free and confidential. Trained counselors are ready to listen and provide support 24/7 for mental health and substance use concerns. You can contact 988 for yourself or for someone you know. Don’t wait, call or text 988 or chat online at 988wisconsin.org. 988, 24/7 call, text, chat. Here to support you. Brought to you by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
:30 produced ad
Send an email to dhsdcts@dhs.wisconsin.gov to get the 30-second ad.
:15 script
We all need someone who listens without judgment. That’s what the 988 is for. 988 is free and confidential with trained counselors available 24/7 via call, text, or chat online at 988wisconsin.org. 988, 24/7 here to support you. Wisconsin DHS.
:15 produced ad
Send an email to dhsdcts@dhs.wisconsin.gov to get the 15-second ad.
Instructions
- Download the image to your device.
- Upload the image to your social media page or feed.
- Use the text above the image to complete the post.
If you would like any of the social media images in Spanish, send an email to dhsdcts@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
Need someone to talk to? Call, text, or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Learn more about this service at 988Wisconsin.org. #988Lifeline #WisconsinLifeline #988WisconsinLifeline
(Download the no judgment, just support image. Also available to download in Spanish.)
If you or someone you know needs support now for a mental health or substance use concern, call, text, or chat. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline connects you with a trained crisis counselor who can help. Go to 988Wisconsin.org to learn more about this service. #988Lifeline #WisconsinLifeline #988WisconsinLifeline
(Download the healing starts now phone image. Also available to download in Spanish.)
You are not alone. Someone at the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is always standing by to take your call, text, and chat. Go to 988Wisconsin.org to learn more about this service. #988Lifeline #WisconsinLifeline #988WisconsinLifeline
(Download the no judgment, just support text image. Also available to download in Spanish.)
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of #suicide or experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 connection to confidential #support. There is hope. Just call, text, or chat. Learn more about this service at 988Wisconsin.org. #988Lifeline #WisconsinLifeline #988WisconsinLifeline
(Download the 988 logo 24/7 call, text, chat image. Also available to download in Spanish.)
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides connection to confidential #support for mental health and substance use issues. There is hope. Just call, text, or chat. Learn more at 988Wisconsin.org. #988Lifeline #WisconsinLifeline #988WisconsinLifeline
(Download the 988 Wisconsin image. Also available to download in Spanish.)
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a safe space to talk. Call, text, or chat 24/7. Learn more at 988Wisconsin.org. #988Lifeline #WisconsinLifeline #988WisconsinLifeline
(Download the healing starts now young adult image. Also available to download in Spanish.)
Call, text, or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline when you need someone to talk to about any challenge or concern. Learn more at 988Wisconsin.org. #988Lifeline #WisconsinLifeline #988WisconsinLifeline
(Download the trained counselors teen image. Also available to download in Spanish.)
No matter what you’re experiencing, if you need someone to lean on, call, text, or chat. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is here and ready to help all Wisconsin residents live their best lives. Learn more at 988Wisconsin.org. #988Lifeline #WisconsinLifeline #988WisconsinLifeline
(Download the no judgment, just support outdoors image. Also available to download in Spanish.)
People call, text, or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline about lots of things. Learn more at 988Wisconsin.org. #988Lifeline #WisconsinLifeline #988WisconsinLifeline
(Download the trained counselors image. Also available to download in Spanish.)
When you need someone to talk to, call, text, or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Learn more at 988Wisconsin.org. #988Lifeline #WisconsinLifeline #988WisconsinLifeline
(Download the someone who understands image. Also available to download in Spanish.)
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has your back. It is a trusted space to talk about whatever you're experiencing. Learn more at 988Wisconsin.org. #988Lifeline #WisconsinLifeline #988WisconsinLifeline
(Download the healing starts now image. Also available to download in Spanish.)
You are not alone. Call, text, or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Learn more at 988Wisconsin.org. #988Lifeline #WisconsinLifeline #988WisconsinLifeline
(Download the no judgment, just hope indoors image. Also available to download in Spanish.)
A variety of static ads for websites are available in the following sizes: 160x600, 300x50, 300x250, 300x600, 320x50, and 728x90. Send an email to dhsdcts@dhs.wisconsin.gov to get the files for these ads.
What happens when you contact 988? English video
What happens when you contact 988? Spanish video
What happens when you contact 988? Hmong video
:30 ad English only
:15 ad English only
Send an email to dhsdcts@dhs.wisconsin.gov if you need a broadcast ready version of these ads or versions that can be played before films at a movie theater.
If the Wisconsin promotional tools do not meet your needs, check out the national promotional tools available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Difference between 211, 988, and 911
There are many three-digit calling codes for help in Wisconsin. The "In Wisconsin, Help is 3 Numbers Away" infographic can help you understand the difference between 211, 988, and 911. It is available in English, Spanish, and Hmong.
Customize with local resources
These fillable PDFs take the "In Wisconsin, Help is 3 Numbers Away" infographic and add a customizable back page for local resources. Tribal nations and counties can select their name in the title, add their logo, and enter program titles, contact information, hours, and descriptions. There are four different layouts to choose from for one, two, three, or four programs.
Work for the 988 Wisconsin Lifeline
Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin is hiring staff for the 988 Wisconsin Lifeline. See the list of positions currently available.
Data
- Wisconsin data: Visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline data dashboard
- National data: Visit the 988 Lifeline Performance Metrics data dashboard
Join our email list
Sign up to receive updates on the implementation of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in Wisconsin.