- I have a friend or family member who is a veteran in crisis. What can I do?
- I'm a veteran who needs help and I don't want to give my name or use VA services. Can I call the Veterans Hotline?
- I'm not suicidal, but I'm a veteran in emotional crisis and can't figure out the VA mental healthcare system. Can I call the Veterans Hotline?
- After I press 1 to indicate I'm a veteran, where is my call routed and who answers the call?
- Where is my call routed to if I don't press 1?
- Why should a veteran enroll for VA health care benefits?
- What mental health services are available at VA?
- Where do I find information about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and VA services and benefits for someone with PTSD?
- What do I do if I have trouble connecting when I call?
- Can the Lifeline and the Veterans Hotline also be reached by dialing 1-800-SUICIDE?
- Can I link to the Lifeline website through my organization's website or my personal website?
- Where can I get more information about suicide prevention and veterans?
- Is there a way to receive online crisis support or to correspond via e-mail with a VA crisis counselor?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline FAQs
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Q: I have a friend or family member that is a veteran in crisis, what can I do?
A:
Friends and family members of veterans in crisis are welcome to call the Veterans Hotline. They can also give
the number (1-800-273-TALK) to the veteran. If the veteran is having a medical emergency, please call 911.
Q: I'm a veteran who needs help and I don't want to give my name or use VA services, can I call the Veterans Hotline?
A:
Yes. All calls to the Veterans Hotline are anonymous. It is the veteran caller's decision as to whether he or she wants
to use VA services; receive care after the call; provide personal information.
Q: I'm not suicidal but, I'm a veteran in emotional crisis and I can't figure out the VA mental healthcare system, can I call the Veterans Hotline?
A:
Yes. VA counselors can help veteran callers in emotional crisis locate the best service and facility for their needs as well as crisis counseling.
Q: After I press 1 to indicate I'm a veteran, where is my call routed to and who answers the call?
A:
Callers who dial 1-800-273-TALK, and press 1 to indicate they are a veteran, will be routed to the Veterans Hotline.
VA crisis counselors answer the call 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Some counselors are veterans and all counselors are
trained to counsel veterans specifically. If all the VA counselors are busy talking to other callers, the call is routed
to a back-up center in the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. Counselors at the back-up centers are also trained
to help veterans.
Q: Where is my call routed to if I don't press 1?
A:
If the caller does not press one to indicate that he or she is a veteran , the call is routed to the National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline's network of 135 crisis centers nationwide. Trained crisis counselors answer calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at
the crisis center nearest to the caller.
Q: Why should a veteran enroll for health care benefits?
A:
A veteran should enroll to ensure that he or she will receive the comprehensive benefits package offered through VA's national
health care system. VA offers comprehensive medical care, including any necessary medical outpatient and inpatient services.
Veterans can apply for VA health care enrollment by completing VA Form 10-10EZ, which takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.
It will take the VA approximately a month to process web and mail-in applications. The 10-10EZ can be obtained by visiting, calling,
or writing any VA health care facility or veterans benefits office. Please visit the
Resource Locator
to find the facility nearest you.
Veterans can also call toll-free 1-877-222-VETS (1-877-222-8387) or access the form on the Internet at
www.va.gov.
(Click on on-line applications). Veterans can receive only emergency services until their enrollment is processed.
Q: What mental health services are available at VA?
A:
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mental Health Strategic Healthcare Group provides general inpatient psychiatric services
at 132 medical centers as well as mental health outpatient services in 689 medical centers and community-based outpatient clinics.
In addition, readjustment counseling services are available for veterans and their families at 209 Vet Centers across the Nation.
Mental health services are available in primary care clinics, VA nursing homes, and residential care facilities where veterans receive
health care. Veterans with a serious mental illnesses are seen at facilities and clinics where specialized programs, such as mental health
intensive case management, day centers, work programs and psychosocial rehabilitation are provided. Please visit the
Resource Locator
to find the facility nearest you.
Q: Where do I find information about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and VA services and benefits pertaining to PTSD?
A:
The VA has revised and updated its information on its website for the VA National Center for PTSD. The website provides a wealth of
information on trauma and PTSD for veterans and their family members, as well as educational information for clinicians and other health
care providers. Please go to the Lifeline's
Veterans Mental Health
page for more information.
Q: What do I do if I have trouble connecting when I call?
A:
We work hard to make sure that everyone can reach a crisis center as quickly as possible. If you call the line and are having
trouble reaching a crisis worker, please contact one of the following people
Q: Can the Lifeline and the Veterans Hotline also be reached by dialing 1-800-SUICIDE?
A:
Yes. Callers who dial 800-SUICIDE are now being helped through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's network of more
than 130 crisis centers across the nation, the same network that responds to 800-273-TALK callers in crisis. This means the
"Press 1" option to be routed to the Veterans Hotline is also available by dialing 800-SUICIDE. Recently, the FCC assigned
800-SUICIDE and two other related toll-free numbers to SAMHSA.
Read here [PDF]
for more details regarding this decision. SAMHSA has directed that 800-SUICIDE calls now be assisted through the federally-funded
Lifeline network of crisis centers, a process which began on February 22, 2007. For more information about how 800-SUICIDE callers
are being efficiently assisted through this network, read our
FAQs Regarding 1-800-SUICIDE.
Q: Can I link to the Lifeline website through my organization's website or my personal website?
A:
We encourage all organizations interested in promoting the partnership between the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
and the VA, to provide a link to www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org on their own websites. We also have Web banners and
buttons that you may post on your site. These materials can be found on the veterans Spread the Word page.
Q: Where can I get more information about suicide prevention and veterans?
A:
A veteran can contact their local Suicide Prevention Coordinator(SPC) for more information on suicide prevention and
veterans. To find a local SPC search the
Resource Locator.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website will be updated periodically with current information relevant to
suicide prevention. You might also visit the Suicide Prevention Resource Center at:
http://www.sprc.org.
Q: Is there a way to receive online crisis support or to correspond via e-mail with a VA crisis counselor?
A:
We understand that some people prefer e-mail or instant messaging over telephone conversations, but currently there
are no such services for crisis support offered on a national level. We encourage you to call our toll-free number
and press one if you are a veteran which will connect you to the Veterans Hotline. You can call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
toll free from a cell phone, pay phone, or any land line. Through the telephone, trained counselors will listen,
provide support, and help connect you to local resources.
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