Suicide Prevention

September is Suicide Prevention Month. View the proclamation from Governor Tony Evers (PDF). Everyone can take action to prevent suicide.

Who can I call for help right now?

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
988

Crisis Text Line
Text HOPELINE to 741741

Veterans Crisis Line
988 (press 1)

Farmer Wellness Helpline
888-901-2558

TrevorLifeline (LGBTQ)
866-488-7386

County Crisis Lines
Use this directory

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

What are the risk factors for suicide?

Risk factors are characteristics that make it more likely that someone will consider, attempt, or die by suicide. They can't cause or predict a suicide attempt, but they're important to know.

Mental health conditions, particularly mood disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and certain personality disorders
Alcohol and other substance use disorders
Hopelessness
Impulsive and/or aggressive tendencies
History of trauma or abuse
Major physical illnesses
Previous suicide attempt(s)
Family history of suicide
Job or financial loss

Loss of relationship(s)
Easy access to lethal means
Local clusters of suicide
Lack of social support and sense of isolation
Stigma associated with asking for help
Lack of health care, especially mental health and substance use treatment
Cultural and religious beliefs, such as the belief that suicide is a noble resolution of a personal dilemma
Exposure to others who have died by suicide (in real life or via the media and internet)

What are the protective factors for suicide?

Protective factors make it less likely that someone will consider, attempt, or die by suicide. Supporting people and promoting factors that protect them from suicidal thoughts and behaviors helps prevent suicide. Examples of protective factors include:

Effective coping and problem-solving skills.
Reasons for living such as family, friends, or pets.
A strong sense of cultural identity.
Support from a partner, family, and friends.
Feeling connected to others.
Feeling connected to school, community, or other social organizations.
Access to consistent and high quality physical and mental health care.
Safe storage for lethal means (examples: guns and medications).

What are the warning signs of suicide?

Some warning signs may help you determine if a loved one is at risk for suicide, especially if the behavior is new, has increased, or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change.

Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves
Looking for a way to kill themselves, like searching online or buying a gun
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
Talking about being a burden to others
Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
Sleeping too little or too much
Withdrawing or isolating themselves
Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
Extreme mood swings

What can I do right now to help someone in emotional pain?

Follow these five steps to help someone thinking about suicide.

Ask: Asking the question “Are you thinking about suicide?” communicates that you’re open to speaking about suicide in a non-judgmental and supportive way.

Be there: This could mean being physically present for someone, speaking with them on the phone when you can, or any other way that shows support for the person at risk. Listen carefully and learn what the individual is thinking and feeling.

Keep them safe: Reducing a suicidal person’s access to highly lethal items or places is an important part of suicide prevention. While this is not always easy, asking if the at-risk person has a plan and removing or disabling the lethal means can make a difference.

Help them connect: Helping someone with thoughts of suicide connect with ongoing supports can help them establish a safety net for those moments they find themselves in a crisis. These supports could be a family member, friend, spiritual advisor, or mental health professional.

Follow-up: After your initial contact with a person experiencing thoughts of suicide, and after you’ve connected them with the immediate support systems they need, make sure to follow-up with them to see how they’re doing.

What can I do to help myself or a member of my community?

Select an option below for tips on how members of a specific community can take care themselves and how others can help them through challenging times.

How can I get involved in suicide prevention activities?

There are many ways for you to support suicide prevention activities in your community.

What is the state doing to prevent suicides?

Prevent Suicide Wisconsin

Prevent Suicide Wisconsin is the umbrella organization for suicide prevention efforts in Wisconsin. The Prevent Suicide Wisconsin Steering Committee includes representatives from state agencies, local suicide prevention coalition leaders, and local health departments, as well as people with lived experience of suicide attempts and losses. This group meets quarterly and provides oversight to Wisconsin's suicide prevention efforts.

Report - Suicide in Wisconsin: Impact and Response

Suicide in Wisconsin: Impact and Response is a report that seeks to mobilize and guide coordinated action to reduce suicide attempts and deaths. This report includes:

The most up-to-date picture of suicide and self-harm injuries in Wisconsin based on surveys, death records, and hospital data.
Four strategies and 50 opportunities for action that taken, as a whole, provide a path toward reducing suicidal behavior in Wisconsin.

Read the full report (PDF) | View an interactive version of the report

Wisconsin Lifeline

Wisconsin Lifeline is Wisconsin's 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline support center serving the entire state. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides care and support to people experiencing stressful situations—whether that is thoughts of suicide, a mental health concern, or a substance use issue. It is a free and confidential service that is available 24/7.

People of all ages who need help for themselves or a loved one can access the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline/Wisconsin Lifeline by:

Calling 988.
Sending a text message to 988.
Using the chat feature at 988lifeline.org.

Wisconsin Farm Center

The Wisconsin Farm Center offers a variety of free services and supports for farmers, including counseling provided by licensed mental health professionals through the 24/7 Farmer Wellness Hotline (888-901-2558) and counseling vouchers. For more information, visit the Wisconsin Farm Center website.

Focus on populations at high risk

Wisconsin has a goal of reducing suicide deaths and self-harm injuries by 10 percent by 2027 among two high-risk populations.

Rural men age 25 and older have the highest rate of suicide in Wisconsin. Learn more about this population of focus (PDF). Planned outreach to this population includes:

Reducing feelings of shame and fear of judgment around mental health and encouraging help-seeking among veterans by supporting programs like U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Together with Veterans.
Improving access to mental health services by training health care providers to use telehealth for suicide care.

Youth ages 10 to 19 have the highest rate of self-injuries in Wisconsin. Learn more about self-harm among girls ages 10-19 (PDF). Planned outreach to this population includes:

Promoting programs like Sources of Strength, a peer leadership approach designed to increase well-being, help-seeking, resiliency, healthy coping, and belonging in youth.
Using Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) teams to support teens who have experienced a suicide death in their family, community, or peer group. LOSS teams are made up of two or more trained volunteers who provide a source of support after a suicide loss. Ensuring support following suicide loss can increase feelings of connectedness and help survivors process their grief.
Educating health care providers to use caring contacts for follow up and to support patients released from care for self-harm or suicide attempts. This outreach helps people connect with resources to support their well-being and prevent re-attempts.

This work is funded by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This work also includes building strong partnerships across education, health care, non-profit, and community organizations; creating a list of existing suicide prevention programs in Wisconsin and identifying where programming gaps exist; and engaging with community organizations to increase and expand suicide prevention efforts.

Improvements to the system of care for mental health emergencies

Enhancements to Wisconsin's system for mental health crisis situations will make this system more like the systems for medical and public safety emergencies. The goal of this work is to develop a system of care in line with national standards that can serve everyone, everywhere, every time. Learn more about this work.

Resilient Wisconsin

Resilient Wisconsin is a statewide initiative to improve the conditions in which people work, live, and grow through trauma-informed resources, tools, and education. Learn more about Resilient Wisconsin.

Safe Person campaign

Safe Person campaign members commit to uphold seven promises. Learn the seven promises and get a decal to show your commitment to non-judgmental listening and support.