Veterans Crisis Line

Veterans Crisis Line
988 then press 1
Text 838255 then press 1
Online chat

As a veteran, we carry so much on our shoulders that those who have never served will never fully understand. The load that we carry greatly varies from veteran to veteran. And sometimes that load gets way too heavy to carry alone and that is where the Veterans Crisis Line comes into play. The Crisis line is manned 24/7 365, by professionals who are willing to help, as long as you allow them to help.

The Veterans Crisis Line is free and confidential. When you call, chat, or text, a qualified responder will listen and help. You decide how much information to share. Support doesn’t end with your conversation. Their responders can connect you with the resources you need.

If you’re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, the Veterans Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource that connects you to a real person specially trained to support Veterans.

The Veterans Crisis Line is not just for Veterans, it is for active duty and reserves as well. Service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserves, along with their loved ones can use the Veterans Crisis Line and receive confidential support 24 hours a day.

Here is how it works when you call 988 and then press 1:

1. A recording will alert you that you’ve reached the Veterans Crisis Line.
2. There will be a brief pause while the call is connected to a qualified responder ready to listen and help.
3. The responder will ask a few questions, such as whether you or the Veteran or service member you’re concerned about may be in immediate danger or at risk for suicide.
4. Your call is free and confidential, and you decide how much information to share.
5. If you or the Veteran or service member you’re concerned about is in danger, the responder will help you get through the crisis and then connect you with the services you need, either from your local VA medical center or elsewhere in your community. If you decide to share contact information, the suicide prevention coordinator at the nearest VA medical center will contact you by the next business day.
6. If you or the Veteran or service member you’re concerned about is in crisis but not at imminent risk for injury or suicide, the responder will listen, offer support, and help you make a plan to stay safe.
7. Afterward, you may be connected with your local suicide prevention coordinator, who will contact you the next business day for continued support.

How it works if you text 838255 then press 1

1. 1. Send a text to 838255. You can say as much or as little as you like to get the conversation started.
2. You will receive a text back that reads: “VA Crisis Center: I’m here to help. If in danger, call 911. For more info, call 800-273-8255. (Press 1). Please keep msgs under 160 characters. STOP to cancel.”
3. The responder will ask a few questions, such as whether you or the Veteran or service member you’re concerned about may be in immediate danger or at risk for suicide.
4. Your text is free and confidential, and you decide how much information to share.
5. You may text STOP at any time to end the conversation. If you do, you will receive this free message in response: “Free Msg: VA Crisis Center: You have successfully unsubscribed and will receive no more messages. For more info email VHA.SuicideHotlineStaff@va.gov. The conversation ended, and this text dialogue has been deleted. For more help, call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1.”
6. If you or the Veteran or service member you’re concerned about is in danger, the responder will help you get through the crisis and then connect you with the services you need, either from your local VA medical center or elsewhere in your community. If you decide to share contact information, the suicide prevention coordinator at the nearest VA medical center will contact you by the next business day.
7. If you or the Veteran or service member you’re concerned about is in crisis but not at imminent risk for injury or suicide, the responder will listen, offer support, and help you make a plan to stay safe.
8. Afterward, you may be connected with your local suicide prevention coordinator, who will contact you the next business day for continued support.

About The Veterans Crisis Line
Launched in 2007, the Veterans Crisis Line started with 14 trained responders working out of a call center in Canandaigua, N.Y. It’s grown to include an online chat and text service with 500 responders in three call center locations. Because many responders are Veterans, they’re familiar with the challenges Veterans face.

Continuing care after the call, chat, or text, Veterans Crisis Line responders can refer Veterans to a local suicide prevention coordinator (SPC). Available in each VA medical center across the country, SPCs can connect Veterans to the counseling and services they need.

The crisis line started in 2007 with 14 trained responders working out of a single call center in New York. Today it has grown to over 500 trained responders located in three call centers. Many of the responders are veterans themselves so they are familiar with the challenges that you as a veteran or on Active Duty face.

Since their start, they have received over 6.4 million calls, more than 772,000 chats, and more than 269,000 text messages. All those calls/chats/texts resulted in more than 248,000 dispatches of emergency services.