31 May 2024 – Wisconsin residents struggling with mental health or substance abuse now have a valuable resource in Uplift WI, a warm line created through a partnership between the state’s Department of Health Services and Mental Health America of Wisconsin.
“We are a warm line, which is a relatively new concept. We do take crisis calls, but 99% of our calls are not crisis-related,” said Jensen Bosio, the program manager for Uplift WI. Unlike the 988 hotline, which is designed for those in immediate danger of self-harm, Uplift WI provides support for individuals who need someone to talk to but are not in a crisis.
Launched in July 2023, Uplift WI is available to any resident within the state. “We are peer support-based, so all of our operators are peer support certified through the state of Wisconsin,” Bosio explained. Callers are connected with peer support specialists who have personal experience with mental health or substance abuse challenges.
Uplift WI offers an anonymous and supportive environment for callers to discuss their issues. Operators can also recommend resources if requested. “We try to have lived experience behind the resources we give out. Someone on our team has likely experienced that resource firsthand,” Bosio said.
The demand for Uplift WI has been significant. “Just in April, we hit 10,000 completed calls. We have seen a 20% increase in calls month-to-month since July,” Bosio reported. The team consists of over a dozen part-time operators, collectively handling more than 1,500 calls each month.
“It’s been a journey, and they’re all great. It’s been a bit of a challenge to meet the demand,” Bosio acknowledged. Despite these challenges, Uplift WI is state-funded and expected to remain available for the foreseeable future. The program currently operates from noon to midnight daily, with plans to potentially expand to a 24/7 schedule.
Wisconsin residents can reach Uplift WI at (534) 202-5438 for support from noon to midnight each day.
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