WASHINGTON, D.C. – A suicide prevention hot line launched by two federal agencies last year helped more than 55,000 callers in its first year, including 22,000 veterans who called it directly, as well as friends and family members seeking help for veterans.
The hot line, launched in July 2007, is part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It receives about 1,575 calls weekly, with callers about evenly divided between veterans from Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam. The number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
The program is a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. It provides nationwide, around-the-clock access to crisis counseling and behavioral health services for all veterans and their families in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.
The hot line is staffed by specially trained counselors, about one-third of whom are veterans themselves, who are able to review veterans’ medical records and refer them to local VA suicide prevention coordinators for follow-up, monitoring and care at local VA facilities.
The hotline was developed with SAMHSA after criticism that VA was not doing enough to help wounded service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. About 6,500 veterans commit suicide annually, according to VA.
For more information, visit http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
