Firearms were involved in the majority of suicides in Milwaukee County in recent years.
Roughly 56% of the 143 suicides recorded by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner in 2025 involved guns.
So far in 2026, 75% of suicides involved a firearm.
Dr. James Bigham, a clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, spoke to NNS in March about the impact of firearms on suicide attempts.
“We absolutely know the means that someone chooses to attempt suicide matter, and some of the ways individuals attempt suicide have a much higher rate of lethality,” Bigham said.
He said a firearm is around 90% effective at completion of suicide, which creates an opportunity for intervention.
“If we can get someone some separation from those really lethal means, like a firearm, during their time of mental health crisis, we can save a life,” Bigham said.
There are resources that reduce access to guns during times of mental health crisis, including safe storage options such as the Wisconsin Gun Shop Project (“Live Today – Put It Away”).
The project partners with participating gun shops, including several in Milwaukee County, to provide firearm safety information and temporary off-site storage options, often for a low fee.
There are also various mental and behavioral health services available throughout the county that are free or on a sliding scale.
County resources
The county maintains a 24-hour crisis line for children and adults at 414-257-7222.
The Milwaukee Mobile Crisis team can respond anywhere in Milwaukee County and provide crisis assessments, stabilization and connections to care.
For people seeking outpatient mental health care, Milwaukee County operates three Access Clinics that offer walk-in behavioral health assessments without an appointment Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Access Clinic East is located at 210 W. Capitol Drive and can be reached at 414-257-7665.
Access Clinic North is located at 8200 W. Silver Spring Drive and can be reached at 414-257-5190.
Access Clinic South is located at 1635 W. National Ave. and can be reached at 414-257-7900.
The county also operates the Milwaukee County Mental Health Clinic at 1919 W. North Ave., Suite 200.
Services there are available by appointment only. To schedule, call 414-257-7610.
Adults seeking non-crisis mental health or substance use treatment can call Community Access to Recovery Services at 414-289-6085.
For children and young adults aged 23 and younger, call 414-257-7607 to begin the referral process for behavioral health services.
Access Clinics provide services to qualifying uninsured or underinsured individuals regardless of their ability to pay, said Jill Lintonen, marketing and communications director for the county Department of Health and Human Services.
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers provides mental and behavioral health services to both insured and uninsured patients.
Patients meet with a financial counselor to establish a payment plan based on income.
Call 414-672-1353 to start the registration process.
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities provides outpatient mental health services through clinics across several counties in southeastern Wisconsin.
Services are available on a sliding scale based on a person’s finances.
People seeking services should call the Catholic Charities outpatient clinic nearest them to begin the process, said Jackie Rekowski, head of mission advancement for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Milwaukee County patients can call 414-771-2881.
Walker’s Point Youth & Family Center
Walker’s Point Youth & Family Center provides free mental health services for youths aged 11 to 24 and their families, including crisis counseling, case management and referrals to additional services.
Services are available through walk-in visits and appointments.
The center also operates a 24-hour crisis line at 414-647-8200.
Youths aged 11 to 17 in need of immediate housing can access the center’s emergency shelter by calling the same number.
“We are working to create a 24-hour text crisis line for the same age range to have an additional way to reach those in need,” said Kali Daughtery, executive director of Walker’s Point.
Related: Here’s where you can get free gun locks in Milwaukee.
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