LGBTQ+ youth 988 hotline returns

The 9-8-8 hotline’s “Press 3” option for Wisconsin LGBTQ+ youth has returned. The “Press 3” feature connects callers with counselors trained to address challenges facing LGBTQ-plus young people. Wisconsin advocates say the service is critical because it links youth in crisis with people who understand their experiences. According to 2025 data, nearly 40 percent of LGBTQ-plus youth in Wisconsin considered suicide, while 12 percent reported attempting it. Supporters, including Wisconsin Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin, pushed for the program’s return after federal funding expired.