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Any one of us can have a setback in life [...]

Russell Fields patrolled the gritty, dangerous streets of Al-Fallujah, Iraq.

An Eagle Scout, college graduate, and airborne-qualified Soldier, Fields led soldiers as a noncommissioned officer in the 10th Mountain Division. His unit fought street-to-street, door-to-door, in urban conflict. He lost Soldiers, placing them in body bags. Reality changed for Fields when he left the battlefield and the military to return home to Texas and start a new life. Fields faced a new form of combat. Flashbacks, images of combat, and the faces of those killed came rushing back. Everyday events like shopping, loud noises and crowds of people left him unprepared.

This month we recognize and celebrate the 1-year birthday of the Topeka site for the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL).

The profile photos and banners of the system’s Twitter and Facebook pages have been replaced with info graphics encouraging guests to add the Veterans Crisis Line number to their phone contacts.

The Siri function on Apple’s iPhone and the Google Assistant function on Android phones now automatically dial the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline which also serves the Veterans Crisis Line, even if the number (1-800-273-8255) is not saved in the phone’s contact list.

With nearly 60 call responders, social service assistants, and support staff, the center joins the VA facilities in Atlanta and Canandaigua, New York, that offer support for Veterans, service members and their family members during times of crisis.

Since its launch in 2007, the Veterans Crisis Line has been an invaluable resource for Veterans nationwide — answering more than 3 million calls and initiating the dispatch of emergency services to callers in crisis nearly 78,000 times.

The Veterans Crisis Line is a very important resource. We encourage everyone to put the number in their phone. 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1.

The new call center, expected to open this fall, will give VCL the additional capacity as VA expands the “automatic transfer” function to its Community Based Outpatient Clinics and Vet Centers.

With new Atlanta call center, VA expands capacity for the Veterans Crisis Line by nearly 600 Veterans each day, essentially doubling VA’s ability to help Veterans in need.

Veterans want to speak with the staff at the Veterans Crisis Line, and VA knows that.

Veteran finds help and hope with a 3 a.m. call to the Veterans Crisis Line