Wisconsin's 988 crisis lifeline has answered over 345,000 calls and texts since launching in July 2022, and research shows it prevented approximately 4,400 suicides among people aged 15 to 34 in its first two and a half years. Yet despite this proven success and overwhelming demand, the service faces an uncertain financial future because Wisconsin lacks a permanent funding mechanism, unlike 12 other states that have enacted dedicated fees or budget appropriations.

The 988 lifeline represents a critical mental health infrastructure that many people don't realize exists. When someone calls or texts 988, they reach trained counselors who help de-escalate crises and connect people to local resources. A recent study published in JAMA found that the service's impact has been measurable and significant: suicides among young adults were 11% lower than expected during the first two and a half years of operation.

Cadence Van Beek, a high school student from Melrose, Wisconsin, experienced this firsthand. During a mental health crisis as a sophomore, she called 988 and spoke with a counselor who took time to listen without rushing her through the process. "It didn't feel rushed," Van Beek said. "She took her time with me, and she was very kind, just a kind soul." That conversation led to information about local resources in her county, demonstrating how the service works beyond just crisis intervention.

Why Is Wisconsin Falling Behind Other States?

Wisconsin's 988 service is struggling to keep up with demand, and the state lags behind most of the nation in answering calls locally. In July 2026, Wisconsin answered just over 9,000 of the 11,200 calls it received in-state, resulting in an 81% answer rate. By comparison, Illinois and Minnesota, which have implemented dedicated 988 funding fees on phone bills, achieved 90% in-state response rates during the same month.

When calls go unanswered locally, they route to national backup centers, which creates two problems: longer wait times and less knowledge of local mental health resources. Tana Koss, Senior Vice President at Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin, which operates the state's 988 line, explained the cascading effect: "The longer a person waits on the line, the more likely they are to disengage. When you're in queue, our primary center gets an opportunity to answer. If we're not able to, then our backup center gets an opportunity to answer. And then, if they're not able to, it goes to national backup".

The demand has far exceeded projections. When the service launched in 2022, planners anticipated moderate to high call volumes. Instead, Koss noted that "Wisconsin has blown all numbers out of the water and continues to. The demand from Wisconsinites for this service has surpassed every model of projection that was available to us". The organization attributes this surge to lingering mental health effects from the COVID-19 pandemic and increased awareness that the service exists, which reflects reduced stigma around seeking help.

Koss

How Are Other States Funding 988?

Twelve states have already implemented sustainable funding models that Wisconsin could adopt. The most straightforward approach mirrors how 911 is funded: through a small monthly fee on phone bills. Illinois and Minnesota both use this model, with dedicated 988 fees similar to the 75-cent monthly fee Wisconsinites already pay for 911 service.

Other states have explored different approaches to ensure long-term support:

• Telecommunications Fees: Twelve states, including Illinois and Minnesota, have enacted dedicated 988 fees on phone bills, mirroring the existing 911 funding model and generating predictable annual revenue.
• Budget Appropriations: Some states have committed to recurring funding through their biennial or annual budgets, though this approach leaves services vulnerable to budget cuts during economic downturns.
• AI Company Accountability Laws: Ohio and Illinois have introduced legislation to fine artificial intelligence companies when their chatbots fail to recognize and refer people in crisis to mental health resources, creating a new funding source.

Wisconsin currently relies on a patchwork of federal grants and state budget allocations that create uncertainty. The federal government announced a grant opportunity in January 2026 and provided Family Services approximately $4.5 million per year for three years. However, the state needs $12.2 million annually to fully fund the service. The 2025-27 state budget allocated $7 million, leaving a $5.2 million annual gap.

What's the Political Barrier to Permanent Funding?

Despite bipartisan recognition that 988 is essential, Wisconsin lawmakers have failed to enact permanent funding. Every two years, the National Alliance on Mental Illness's Wisconsin chapter advocates for 988 funding during budget negotiations. Last year, Governor Tony Evers' budget recommendation included $12.2 million for the lifeline, but lawmakers approved only $7 million.

In June 2025, state Representative Ben Franklin (R-De Pere) and state Senator Jesse James (R-Thorp) introduced a bill that would have required the state to provide grants to agencies administering the 988 lifeline. Franklin stated during a committee hearing: "988 has proven to be highly effective and used frequently amongst Wisconsinites and is a vital service we should be funding." However, the bill included no funding mechanism attached to it, and it failed to pass in the Senate and did not come to a vote in the Assembly.

Franklin

Julia Polk, advocacy coordinator for the National Alliance on Mental Illness's Wisconsin chapter, emphasized the need for education and action: "What we would love to see is that we can educate our legislators on why 988 is so important and why it's important to fund it long term, and get them in the next state budget to say, 'we're going to permanently fund this'".

Funding uncertainty has been compounded by delays in federal grant availability. Polk noted that advocates have had to "trust and hope that those grants will become available," particularly during the Trump administration's delays in making grants accessible. This unpredictability has prompted calls for reliable state funding independent of federal cycles.

Polk

Steps to Advocate for Sustainable 988 Funding

• Contact Your Legislators: Reach out to state representatives and senators to express support for permanent 988 funding mechanisms, whether through a dedicated phone bill fee, recurring budget appropriations, or other sustainable models.
• Support Advocacy Organizations: Join or donate to groups like the National Alliance on Mental Illness Wisconsin chapter, which pushes for 988 funding during every budget cycle and educates lawmakers about the service's impact.
• Share Personal Stories: If you or someone you know has used 988, consider sharing that experience with elected officials or local media to demonstrate the service's real-world value and urgency.
• Promote Public Awareness: Help reduce stigma and increase usage by sharing information about 988 with your community, schools, and workplaces, which increases demand and justifies funding requests.

The funding gap is projected to grow. Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin anticipates a $6.195 million deficit in 2028 if the state does not increase its budget allocation to match the $12.2 million annual need. Koss acknowledged the administrative stress: "We didn't slow down with recruitment, but administratively, it's stressful when you have these delays on giant parts of the funding".

Koss

The stakes are personal for many advocates. Brandy Tollefson, a De Pere School Board member running for state representative, has lived experience with suicide loss. "I myself went through the experience of having my stepbrother die by suicide years ago, so I know what happens to a family when this happens and the impact it has on families," Tollefson said. "I fully support working with any Democrat or Republican who wants to get this permanently funded".

Koss emphasized that the specific funding mechanism matters less than achieving sustainability. "I'm not personally attached to any route," she said. "I think the request that I would have and advocate for is sustainability over the long haul because what we're projecting is this growth hasn't stopped". As Wisconsin's 988 service continues to answer more calls than anyone anticipated, the state faces a choice: invest in permanent funding now or risk losing the infrastructure that has already saved thousands of lives.

Koss