If you are in crisis and need to speak with a crisis responder, Dial 988 then Press 1.
About the Veterans Crisis Line
General: How We Collect & Use Personal Information
Calls to the Veterans Crisis Line: How We Collect & Use Personal Information
Texts to the Veterans Crisis Line: How We Collect & Use Personal Information
Chats to the Veterans Crisis Line: How We Collect & Use Personal Information
General Veterans Crisis Line User Agreement
We’re here for Veterans. 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
We know Veterans rely on the confidential, round-the-clock support offered by the Veterans Crisis Line. And we believe Veterans should also be able to clearly understand how their personal information will be collected and used after their interaction(s) with the Veterans Crisis Line.
The first thing Veterans should know is the types of information collected varies by how they contact the Veterans Crisis Line. The second—and most important thing—Veterans should know is that we make protecting their personal information a priority and use advanced technology to guard it.
By using or accessing Veterans Crisis Line services, you agree to the Terms of Service described below.
We take the privacy and security of Veterans very seriously. Security controls, including encryption and authentication, are in place to ensure the protection of your information. Any information you provide or that is collected about you will only be shared or disclosed in accordance with applicable federal laws and regulations.
Contractors may act on behalf of the VA in administering the Veterans Crisis Line. Any contractor used will be subject to the same legal requirements and responsibilities as the VA for protecting the privacy and security of your information.
In specific circumstances, your information may be collected or used without your explicit consent to address emergencies or as authorized by applicable laws.
Please visit the Privacy and Security page for more information about how your privacy is protected.
Collecting Personal Information
We understand the importance of confidentiality when calling the Veterans Crisis Line. You have control over how much information you choose to share with the responder.
Your personally identifiable information is not collected unless you voluntarily provide it to a Veterans Crisis Line responder. For example, if you share your name or other contact information for follow-up, this information will be securely stored by the hotline.
In specific circumstances, your information may be collected without your explicit consent to address emergencies.
Sharing Personal Information
Information you provide to the Veterans Crisis Line will not be shared unless:
Please visit the Privacy and Security page for more information about how your privacy is protected.
Collecting Personal Information
We understand the importance of confidentiality when texting the Veterans Crisis Line. You have control over how much information you choose to share with the responder.
Your personally identifiable information is not collected unless you voluntarily provide it to a Veterans Crisis Line responder. For example, if you share your name or other contact information for follow-up, this information will be securely stored by the hotline.
In specific circumstances, your information may be collected without your explicit consent to address emergencies.
Sharing Personal Information
Information you provide to the Veterans Crisis Line will not be shared unless:
Please visit the Privacy and Security page for more information about how your privacy is protected.
Additional Information
You can text 838255 as much or as little as you like to start a confidential conversation with the Veterans Crisis Line. A trained responder will text you back and ask you a few questions.
The Veterans Crisis Line text-messaging service does not charge for texting to 838255, though cell phone carrier message and/or data rates may apply. You will receive a varying number of messages based on the conversation. Message delivery may be delayed or impacted by your mobile carrier’s network. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
Collecting Personal Information
We understand the importance of confidentiality when chatting with the Veterans Crisis Line. You have control over how much information you choose to share with the responder.
Your personally identifiable information is not collected unless you voluntarily provide it to a Veterans Crisis Line responder. For example, if you share your contact information for follow-up, this information will be securely stored by the hotline.
In specific circumstances, your information may be collected without your explicit consent to address emergencies.
Sharing Personal Information
Information you provide to the Veterans Crisis Line will not be shared unless:
Please visit the Privacy and Security page for more information about how your privacy is protected.
Collecting Personal Information
We encourage you to visit VeteransCrisisLine.net, but we want to make sure you know certain information about your visit to our homepage is automatically gathered and stored. This information does not identify you personally. The information automatically collected and stored is similar to the following:
This information is used to help us make the Veterans Crisis Line site more useful to visitors and to learn about the number of visitors to the site and the types of technology visitors use. Personally identifiable information about VeteransCrisisLine.net visitors is not automatically tracked or recorded.
Accessibility
VeteransCrisisLine.net is accessible to all visitors and staff in accordance with provisions of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998.
We don’t collect personally identifiable information from child visitors unless they voluntarily submit it as a request for information or services. The information supplied is used to respond to the user’s inquiries or to provide services requested by the user.
If you visit VeteransCrisisLine.net, you agree that the Veterans Crisis Line is not responsible for any personal information you enter until it is received by VA. While we prioritize protecting your information and have safeguards in place, communicating over the internet always carries some level of risk.
The Veterans Crisis Line offers vital support to Veterans, but it should not be considered medical care or treatment by VA.
In order for the Veterans Crisis Line to provide the best service, you acknowledge that if the responder concludes you may harm yourself, he or she will request your telephone number to try to connect you with additional support or assistance.