Veterans Crisis Line: A free resource for veterans in need of support
The Veterans Crisis Line offers confidential support to veterans and service members in crisis
Derek Foster is a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, retired for more than 20 years. He works in suicide prevention, managing a grant fund that awards money to Washington suicide prevention programs for service members, veterans, and their families.
Foster also knows he has many risk factors for becoming a suicide statistic.
“I regularly have suicide ideation,” he explained. “I have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mainly related to moral injury, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Significant life changes in the last few years have contributed to depression and feelings of being misunderstood and lonely. I have a plan, and I have means. I live in an isolated area where the closest advanced medical care is about an hour away.”
Importantly, though, Foster also has a supportive spouse and a safety plan. What’s more, he knows he can use the Veterans Crisis Line if he ever needs a place to go for help.
“It’s like a safety net, somewhere to go if my coping strategies fail,” he says.
All about the Veterans Crisis Line
The Veterans Crisis Line began operating in 2007. In 2022, it became one of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline subnetwork lines.
As of April 2024, the Veterans Crisis Line has answered more than 7.7 million calls, 377,000 texts, and 941,000 chats. Crisis responders have also made more than 1.5 million referrals to Veterans Affairs suicide prevention coordinators.
The Veterans Crisis Line offers free, confidential support to:
- Veterans
- Service members
- National Guard and Reserve members
You can get help even if you don’t receive VA benefits. You also don’t need health insurance or a primary care doctor to get free support from the Veterans Crisis Line.
The Veterans Crisis Line is available any day, any time. If you’re a veteran in crisis or concerned about one, experiencing distress, or just need to talk, you can reach a responder by:
- Dialing 988 and pressing 1
- Texting 838–255
- Chatting online
Why is the Veterans Crisis Line so important?
“I don’t like the cliché that veterans are different, because we aren’t,” Foster said. “We just had different jobs.”
“However, the issues and manner in which veterans need support can differ,” he says.
Not all crises veterans experience relate to war trauma. In fact, Foster took part in an intensive outpatient group therapy program for people diagnosed with PTSD for reasons outside of combat.
“Many veterans may feel misunderstood when trying to discuss things they may have done or seen or been an active participant in,” Foster said. “It’s hard to open up to people and talk about those things, or any shame you experience, if you feel like judgment is an outcome of the things you say.”
Many of the crisis responders who answer calls, texts, and chats at the Veterans Crisis Line are veterans themselves. So, they understand the crises and challenges many veterans experience.
The Veterans Crisis Line works. According to a small 2020 study:
- 87% of people who used the line said they were satisfied with it.
- 81.9% said it was helpful.
- 72.9% said it helped keep them safe.
- 82.6% of people who had thoughts of suicide said contacting the line helped stop them from dying.
Research conducted by the Veterans Crisis Line also found that veterans said they felt better after calling and reported less suicide ideation at the end of the call. This research also found a link between reduced distress during the call and increased use of mental health care.
Crisis responders can also connect you to a suicide prevention coordinator (SPC). SPCs can help you get counseling and other services and resources in your community. The Veterans Crisis Line is linked to over 600 SPCs at Veterans Affairs medical centers who can provide local follow-up support within one business day.
Two other programs provide support after someone contacts the Veterans Crisis Line.
- The Caring Letters program sends letters to veterans for 12 months after they call the Veterans Crisis Line. Caring Letters is an evidence-based program that has helped reduce suicide ideation, attempts, and deaths among veterans.
- The Peer Support Outreach Center connects people who have contacted the Veterans Crisis Line with peer specialists. These specialists are veterans trained to provide mentorship and support. They can help reduce the stigma of seeking help and empower veterans to pursue treatment, set goals, and get support when needed. This center opened in 2021.
When to reach out
It’s important to get support right away if you notice any signs of crisis in yourself or a loved one. These signs may include:
- Ongoing feelings of sadness, depression, or hopelessness
- Sudden or frequent changes in mood
- Thoughts of death or dying
- Feeling like there’s no reason to live
- Feelings of guilt, shame, or failure
- Showing more anger or rage
- Aggressive or violent behavior, including breaking objects and fighting
- Unusual impulsiveness
- Increased substance use
- Less interest in work, hobbies, and other everyday activities
- Withdrawal from loved ones
- Less interest in personal hygiene or appearance
- Giving away possessions, making a will, or otherwise putting affairs in order
It’s always OK to ask, “Are you thinking about suicide?” Asking about suicide shows loved ones you care and lets them know they can talk to you about their feelings. It won’t make them more likely to attempt suicide.
“I want to normalize talking about suicide,” Foster said. “It’s one of those topics people shy away from because of fear or uneasiness or worries it may give someone in crisis the idea of suicide. For a long time, I felt broken and like an outcast. I want other people who feel like that to know they’re not alone, that there are people out there who can relate and offer support.”
“Just like with everything else in the military, it’s all about the teamwork and how we help each other through hard times,” Foster adds.
You can get support and resources from the Veterans Crisis Line or the 988 Lifeline for yourself or a loved one.
Find additional support here:
Show your support
You can support suicide prevention and the 988 Lifeline in Washington by adding a 988 emblem to your license plate.
Get a 988 emblem at any Department of Licensing office where you license and register vehicles.
The funds from emblem sales support the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs Suicide Prevention Program. This program works to reduce military and veteran suicide deaths through peer connection, prevention education, and wellness support.
You don’t need to be an expert to make a difference. You can support veterans by sharing or using the downloadable WDVA Suicide Prevention Program resources and information.
