About Us

A Source of Support

Care doesn’t end when the conversation is over. Our responders can connect you with the resources you need. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to use 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.

Responders are also available 24/7 to help active-duty service members and their families and friends through a crisis through the Military Crisis Line. Service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserves, along with their loved ones, can Dial 988 and Press 1, chat online at MilitaryCrisisLine.net, or send a text to 838255 to receive free, confidential support.

The Veterans Crisis Line’s most recent initiatives build on the idea that support should be available after a Veteran’s initial contact with the Veterans Crisis Line:

• Caring Letters: Launched in 2020, the program focuses on mailing letters to Veterans during the year after their initial documented call to the Veterans Crisis Line. This initiative has been found to reduce the rate of suicide death, attempts, and ideation and provides a unique opportunity to help save Veteran lives beyond the call.
• Peer Support Outreach Call Center: Opened in 2021, this center is staffed by trained Veterans who proactively reach out to Veterans Crisis Line callers who might benefit from additional intervention. Studies show that Veterans who have peer mentors are more likely to keep their VA appointments, access additional treatment methods, and meet other important health benchmarks. With this in mind, peer specialists give Veterans a sense of empowerment, help reduce stigma, and provide guidance on self-help and goal setting.

The Veterans Crisis Line continues to grow and evolve to find the most effective ways to serve Veterans and their loved ones.