If you’re going through a tough time or having thoughts of suicide, you’re not alone, and there is hope. There really are people who want to listen and help.
Reaching out for help may be the last thing you want to do, and you may think no one understands what you’re going through. But the responders at the Veterans Crisis Line are trained to provide support no matter what you’re experiencing.
Since many responders are Veterans or have Veteran family members and friends, they are prepared to listen to and help you address the challenges you’re facing.
Let’s walk through what you can expect when you call the Veterans Crisis Line.
Calling the Veterans Crisis Line
After you Dial 988 then Press 1, you’ll hear a brief message that you’re being transferred to the next available Veterans Crisis Line responder. Responders are there to provide the support you need on your path to safety, hope and healing.
Once you’re connected to a Veterans Crisis Line responder, they’ll listen to better understand what you’re going through and why you called. They may also ask a few questions to make sure they’re providing support and resources that best fit your needs. You decide how much information you share. Throughout the conversation, responders may ask you questions, such as “Are you thinking of suicide?” or “What plan can we put in place to keep you safe today?”
If you or the Veteran you’re concerned about is in crisis, the responder will work with you and help you make a plan to stay safe. This could include discussing things that have worked for you in the past, thinking about family or friends you feel comfortable reaching out to or helping you to make your home safe. The responder can also connect you with the support services you need, either from your local VA medical center or elsewhere in your community.
Texting and chatting with the Veterans Crisis Line
In addition to calling the Veterans Crisis Line, Veterans and their supporters have the option to chat (VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat) or text (838255) to reach responders.
With the Veterans Crisis Line chat or text feature, confidential crisis support is a click away. After you start a chat or text, a VA responder will join the conversation. There’s no cost for you to chat and text the Veterans Crisis Line, and you decide how much information you share.
After the call
If you choose, the responder will share your name and some personal information with your local VA suicide prevention coordinator who will contact you the next business day.
You may also be connected to the Peer Support Outreach Call Center. This center is staffed by trained Veterans who proactively reach out to Veterans Crisis Line callers who might benefit from additional support. Veterans who have peer mentors are more likely to keep their VA appointments, access additional treatment methods, and meet other important health benchmarks.
VA’s Resource Locator can also connect you to resources and support systems. Whether you’re looking for clinical care, counseling, or assistance with benefits, you can use this tool to search for local VA resources in your area.
To find resources nearby, visit the Local Resources page on the Veterans Crisis Line website: https://www.VeteransCrisisLine.net/find-resources/local-resources/. Scroll down to see the Search Local VA Resources box. Here, you can enter your ZIP code and distance parameters. You can search from 10-30 miles from your ZIP code.
Results will include the type of resource (Vet centers, VA medical centers, VA benefits offices) and its name, address, and phone number, a link to its website, and the distance from the ZIP code you entered.
Millions of Veterans have contacted the Veterans Crisis Line. Don’t wait. Contact the Veterans Crisis Line today: Dial 988, then Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.
The new Veterans Crisis Line number – Dial 988, then Press 1 – provided ease of access and contributed to the increase in Veteran use of the line during this year’s holiday season.
Veterans Crisis Line call volume on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day increased approximately 30% compared to the previous year. From Dec. 31, 2022, through Jan. 1, 2023, the Veterans Crisis Line successfully answered 3,869 calls and 100% of all 3,869 calls were addressed by crisis line responders.
Topics in this story
More Stories
Perinatal Veterans Socials bring together new parents to build social connection as they navigate parenthood and post-partum care.
Veteran Eric Golnick joined the Million Veteran Program after losing his best friend to cancer caused by toxic exposure.
Barry Peterson shares his experience as a VA virtual reality provider and user and how it helps him connect with other Veterans.
where is my last comment.
I see it thank you. 32 years at Louisville Va. Refuse to help with abuse complaints. The Va answer for abuse: deny ,cover up ,abuse you again, hope you die or abuse you so bad you won’t return. Be brave and help stop the abuse. If you work for the Va and want to help me please email me. I am talking about emotional abuse that has caused severe health problems. Please forward to the secretary of Va. No one else is willing to help.
I try to talk about employee abuse causing suicidal thoughts and all I get is victim blaming and a 72 hr hold attempt for suicide but no help for the cause which is VA abuse.
You need to stop gaslighting veterans and lying to them. I have been asking for help with VA Employee abuse issues from crisis line and others for years. I have always been treated in an inhumane way and do their best to ignore this subject. I and other vets have had bad experiences with the crisis line. I cannot report abuse and have it proccesed. If you are the person who can help me please contact me. Do not pas me off to someone else.
they are doing a great job.
Are you kidding me….I had a serious crisis situation with my veteran son who is being treated for several physical/mental things. This line is supposed to be for Vets and their loved ones. I called this “crisis help line” 5 times 2 weeks ago and the recording hung up on me all 5 times. Know wonder Vets are taking their own lives. They finally get the courage to reach out for help and they get hung up on. I can’t even fathom this. After the 5th time…..I called the 988 and a human answered and wanted to transfer me to the VA crisis line and I told her what happened. She was appalled and reported it to her supervisor.
70% of time I felt worse having called and have been hung up on then been told my issue was resolved. The VA is highly trained in abuse and gaslighting. If you do not reconize the persons problem how are you going to help them!
I can not think of enough great things to say about the Veterans Crisis Line.
My husband of 36 years passed away Dec 26, very unexpected. I was at a loss and needed help. The Veterans Crisis Line help so much. With in two hours the local VA suicide prevention coordinator contacted me. The next day Chaplain services called. I did not know all the resources that could and have helped so much.
I am so grateful you are there to help us.
Thank you
Dear Kathy:
I am glad that you were provided many resources as a condolence for your husband’s passing. It is unfortunate that the passing of your husband may have been unavoidable.
The fact that no one has bothered to reply to the scary comments below is quite discouraging.
I had a horrible night terror on 1/2/23. I wasn’t suicidal but I was terrified. I called the crisis line and someone talked with until I felt safe. They are a huge resource and I am glad they are there. Thank you responders.
On an Android cell phone, how do I “Dial” 988 and then press 1? When I call 988 a recording says that my call can’t be completed as dialed.
Crisis line needs to be defunded. The responders are not properly educated and trained. They quit talking to you when you tell them you are not suicidal or they call for a “ welfare check “ anyway. Every time the police is called you are marked as dangerous to yourself or others. So after time you could loose your house and freedom. Please get responsible and educated people in place or shut it down.
Dear Carl:
I agree with you 100%. In all of my interactions with untrustworthy agencies (such as the VA), I do so with apprehension, not calling from home (or any other known location) and not giving any rhetorically justifiable cause for those agencies to act against me with a negative result.
This is all a fabrication of li´s. No one answers, and when they do, they are not trained to help. Wasted time.
No
I refuse to ever have any more contact with the crisis line after they improperly call the cops and sent them to my place.
That’s not true, the police are summoned and they may or may not have training.
When you call a crisis line you can expect a visit from the police to ascertain your welfare. Then usually you will be put on a 72 hour hold in hospital for psychiatric observation. This is the case in California.
Why are they REQUIRING personal information to post a comment?? There is so much money spent on propaganda; we, Vets, are left in the cold to deal, or NO deal. disgusted.
[Editor: There is no verification here for any information. But it’s easier to spot the real vs. spam…]
Dear J:
I assume personal information is required to post a comment because the VA does not possess the competency in leadership, management, and psychology to know that they are presumably inadvertently discouraging comments.
Also, I wholeheartedly agree that it is fraud, waste, and abuse – the huge amount of money invested in VA advertising / propaganda and inconsequential services (e.g., patient advocate program, YouTube, posters, calendars, various websites, etc.). It might be better to invest that money into VA missions, primarily veteran health… and then the good services of the VA would circulate through veteran word-of-mouth, which is many times more effective.
P.S. I have never heard positive word-of-mouth comments about the VA.