Noteboom The Law Firm

Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline Becomes Veterans Crisis Line

Recognizing the broad range of issues faced by veterans and the stigma associated with the term suicide, the National Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline will now be known as the Veterans Crisis Line. The hope is to attract more calls from both family members and veterans by lessening the stigma attached to the hotline.

The National Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline/Veterans Crisis Line has been in existence for years and is just one of the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) approaches to combating the issue of veterans taking their own lives.

Most of the calls into the hotline stem from veterans suffering from mental illness or emotional issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and not every call is a suicide prevention call. Many of the calls are from veterans facing a range of stressors.

Just to pick up the phone is a huge step for many veterans despite desperately needing help. Stigma, embarrassment, and shame prevent many from seeking the help they need. Often this first step is the most difficult one to take, but once done, many veterans report a feeling of relief of having taken a step toward help. Callers are connected with a VA health care professional regardless of the reason for the call.