The Veterans Crisis Line is one of the most important — and most underutilized — resources available to veterans and their families. Free, confidential, 24/7, no enrollment required, no discharge status barrier. This guide covers every contact method, who answers, what happens during and after a call, family access, deaf/hard-of-hearing services, 2026 program expansions, the Solid Start program, and how to recognize when someone needs help.
The Veterans Crisis Line is a free, confidential, 24/7 crisis resource for veterans, active duty service members, National Guard members, reservists, and their families. It was established by Public Law 110-110, the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act, signed into law in 2007, and is authorized under 38 USC 1720F — the comprehensive program for suicide prevention among veterans — and governed by 38 CFR 17.500.
The line is named in part after Joshua Omvig, an Iowa Army National Guard veteran who died by suicide in 2005 after returning from a combat deployment in Iraq. His story, and the advocacy of his family, helped create the legislative mandate that became the Veterans Crisis Line. The program represents one of the most significant expansions of veteran mental health infrastructure in modern VA history.
Since its launch in 2007, the Veterans Crisis Line has answered more than 10 million calls, texts, and chats and dispatched emergency services more than 200,000 times. In 2022, the number transitioned to the integrated 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, with veterans and service members directed to press 1 for the dedicated Veterans Crisis Line routing. Sources: Public Law 110-110; 38 USC 1720F; 38 CFR 17.500
The Veterans Crisis Line offers multiple access points because different people in crisis reach out in different ways. No one method is better than another — the right method is the one you will actually use.
The primary number. Call 988 (the national mental health crisis line), then press 1 to be connected directly to the Veterans Crisis Line. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Calls are free from any phone — cell, landline, or VOIP. You do not need to know the area code or any special number. If calling from outside the United States, call 1-800-273-8255 (toll-free) and press 1.
Text the word "HELLO" or any message to 838255 to reach a Veterans Crisis Line text counselor. Text is ideal for situations where you cannot speak out loud — in a public space, at work, or in a home environment where privacy is limited. Text counselors are available 24/7 and provide real-time support through the text conversation. Standard text rates may apply depending on your plan.
Online chat is available at veteranscrisisline.net. Click the "Chat Now" button to be connected to a live crisis counselor through a secure, encrypted web interface. Chat is available 24/7 and is particularly useful for veterans who prefer typing over speaking, who are in environments where a phone call isn't possible, or who feel more comfortable with the distance that text-based communication provides.
Deaf and hard-of-hearing veterans can reach the Veterans Crisis Line via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. This dedicated TTY line is staffed 24/7 with counselors experienced in supporting deaf and hard-of-hearing veterans. See the full accessibility section below for additional options including Video Relay Service (VRS) and captioned telephone service.
Every Veterans Crisis Line contact — whether by call, text, or chat — is answered by a real, trained human crisis counselor. There are no automated menus, no bots, and no AI-generated responses. The Veterans Crisis Line is staffed exclusively by trained crisis responders, many of whom are veterans or have personal connections to the veteran community.
Veterans Crisis Line responders complete specialized training that goes beyond standard crisis line protocols. Their training includes:
VA clinical supervisors with mental health credentials provide real-time backup and consultation support to crisis responders. This clinical oversight ensures that responders have immediate access to professional guidance when handling complex or high-risk contacts.
Many Veterans Crisis Line responders are veterans themselves. The shared military experience creates an authentic understanding that can be profoundly meaningful for a veteran reaching out in crisis — the responder's credibility as someone who has served may help a veteran who is reluctant to speak to "a civilian who doesn't understand." The VA actively recruits veteran staff for crisis line positions, and many VSL centers have majority-veteran workforces.
One of the most important facts about the Veterans Crisis Line — and one of the most frequently misunderstood — is that there are no eligibility requirements. The line is available to:
The absence of a discharge status barrier is particularly significant. Veterans with OTH or dishonorable discharges often face exclusion from other VA services — but the crisis line operates on a different principle: no one in crisis should be turned away because of their paperwork. This reflects the Omvig Act's mandate and the VA's recognition that the need for crisis support transcends administrative eligibility categories.
Many veterans are hesitant to call the Veterans Crisis Line because they don't know what to expect. Here is a clear, trauma-informed account of what a typical call involves:
There is no fixed length for a Veterans Crisis Line call. Some calls are 10 minutes; others last an hour or more. The conversation continues for as long as you need. You can also hang up and call back if you feel overwhelmed — the line is there whenever you need it.
The Veterans Crisis Line's role doesn't necessarily end when the call does. With the veteran's consent, the crisis counselor may offer what is called a warm handoff — a direct connection to a local VA crisis response team, VA emergency mental health services, or community mental health services.
A warm handoff means the crisis counselor directly contacts the local support resource while you are still on the line or immediately after, so that the receiving provider already knows why you are calling and what happened. This is different from simply being given a phone number — the handoff is warm because the connection is made person-to-person, not left for the veteran to navigate alone.
Warm handoffs may connect veterans with:
With your consent, a follow-up care coordinator from the local VA may contact you within 24–48 hours of your crisis contact to check in and help connect you with ongoing mental health services. This follow-up is voluntary — you are never obligated to accept it — but it represents the VA's commitment to not letting veterans slip through the cracks between crisis intervention and ongoing care.
Veterans who are not enrolled in VA healthcare and want to begin receiving mental health services can use the crisis contact as a starting point for enrollment. VA same-day mental health services are available at VA Medical Centers, and the crisis counselor or follow-up coordinator can help initiate enrollment.
The Veterans Crisis Line is explicitly available to family members, friends, and anyone concerned about a veteran. You do not need to be a veteran yourself to call, text, or chat — if you are worried about someone who served, you have access to the same trained crisis counselors.
When calling about a veteran you're concerned about, you can simply tell the responder: "I'm calling because I'm worried about my [husband/wife/son/daughter/friend] who is a veteran." The counselor will guide the conversation from there, helping you:
Talking about wanting to die or kill themselves
Looking for ways to access lethal means (weapons, medications)
Talking about feeling like a burden to others
Increased alcohol or substance use
Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities they once enjoyed
Extreme mood swings or sudden calmness after deep depression
Giving away prized possessions
Expressing hopelessness or having no reason to live
Reckless or self-destructive behavior
Sleeping too little or too much — disrupted patterns
Any one of these warning signs warrants concern. Multiple signs — especially talking about self-harm combined with access to means — warrant immediate action. Call 988, press 1, tell the responder what you're observing, and let them guide you through the appropriate response.
Research consistently shows that restricting access to lethal means — particularly firearms — is the single most effective intervention for reducing suicide risk in military communities. If you are concerned about a veteran and there are firearms in the home, working with the veteran (when possible) or law enforcement (when necessary) to temporarily secure or remove access to firearms can be life-saving. The Veterans Crisis Line counselor can provide specific guidance on lethal means counseling tailored to your situation.
The Veterans Crisis Line is committed to accessibility for all veterans, including those with hearing disabilities.
The period immediately following separation from active duty is one of the highest-risk periods for veteran mental health crises and suicide. Loss of unit cohesion, identity disruption, transition stress, and sudden removal from the structure of military service create a constellation of risk factors that the VA has specifically addressed through the VA Solid Start program.
VA Solid Start is a proactive outreach program that contacts veterans in their first year after separation from active duty. VA Solid Start staff call eligible veterans approximately three times during the first year:
Research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology and other peer-reviewed journals has found that veteran suicide risk is highest in the first few years after separation — particularly for younger veterans and those without strong social support networks. The transition from the highly structured, communal environment of military service to the relative isolation of civilian life creates a vulnerable window that Solid Start specifically addresses through proactive, relationship-based outreach.
VA Solid Start contacts eligible veterans proactively — you don't need to sign up. However, if you are a recently separated veteran who has not been contacted, or if you want to proactively connect, reach out through the Veterans Crisis Line (988, press 1) or contact your nearest VA Medical Center's mental health department. Mention that you are recently separated and inquire about Solid Start enrollment.
The Veterans Crisis Line has undergone significant expansion and improvement in 2025–2026, building on the 2022 transition to the 988 number and addressing capacity and access challenges identified through the VA's ongoing program evaluation.
Following the 2022 launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the VA and SAMHSA worked to improve routing efficiency for veterans pressing 1. In 2025–2026, routing improvements have reduced average wait times for veteran-specific responders and increased the percentage of veteran calls answered by VA-trained responders rather than general crisis counselors. The VA has invested in additional staffing and technology infrastructure to support these improvements.
In response to growing utilization of text and chat channels (particularly among younger veterans who prefer text-based communication), the Veterans Crisis Line has expanded its text and chat counselor capacity in 2026. Average response times for text and chat have been improved, and the chat interface at VeteransCrisisLine.net has been updated for improved accessibility on mobile devices.
Building on the evidence base for peer support in veteran mental health, the Veterans Crisis Line in 2026 has expanded its integration with VA peer support specialists — veterans in recovery who are trained to support other veterans. Warm handoffs increasingly connect veterans with peer support specialists in addition to clinical staff, recognizing that peer connection is a powerful complement to professional mental health care.
Veterans in rural areas — who face geographic barriers to in-person mental health care — benefit from the Veterans Crisis Line's accessibility via cell phone, text, and internet. The 988 system (unlike earlier dedicated numbers) works from virtually any U.S. cell phone or landline. International access remains available via the original toll-free number 1-800-273-8255 (press 1), though text and chat services have limited international availability.
A common concern among veterans considering calling the Veterans Crisis Line is whether the conversation will be reported to their chain of command, employer, or VA benefits staff. Understanding the confidentiality framework can remove a significant barrier to reaching out.
For active duty service members: the confidentiality protections apply similarly, but service members should be aware that military mental health regulations differ from civilian HIPAA in some contexts. If you are active duty and concerned about confidentiality, asking the crisis counselor about these protections at the start of the call is appropriate — they can explain what applies in your specific situation.
The Veterans Crisis Line is designed for acute crisis intervention — but many veterans also need ongoing mental health support that extends beyond a single crisis contact. The VA provides a comprehensive range of mental health services, most of which are free for enrolled veterans with service-connected or other qualifying conditions:
Veterans seeking ongoing mental health care who are not currently enrolled in VA healthcare should call 1-800-827-1000 or visit va.gov/health-care/apply/ to begin the enrollment process. Many veterans are eligible for free VA healthcare and don't know it.
Call 988 and press 1. Text 838255. Chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net. TTY: 800-799-4889. All methods are free, confidential, and available 24/7, 365 days a year. No enrollment, no registration, no discharge status requirement.
No. The Veterans Crisis Line is available to all veterans, service members, and their families regardless of VA enrollment status, discharge status, disability rating, or any other eligibility criteria. Call, text, or chat any time — no eligibility check required.
Yes. Your conversation is confidential and will not be shared with your employer, military chain of command, or VA benefits staff without your consent. The only exception is an imminent threat to life, in which case emergency services may be dispatched — but even then, only minimum necessary information is shared. This call will not affect your VA disability claim.
Real, trained human crisis counselors — many of them veterans themselves — with specialized training in combat trauma, PTSD, MST, moral injury, and military culture. VA clinical supervisors provide real-time backup. There are no automated responses or bots.
VA Solid Start proactively contacts veterans in their first year after separation at approximately 90, 180, and 365 days post-separation to check in, answer VA benefit questions, and connect veterans with mental health support. Recently separated veterans who want proactive support can also reach out through the Veterans Crisis Line or their nearest VA Medical Center.
The Veterans Crisis Line was established by Public Law 110-110 (the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act, 2007). It is authorized under 38 USC 1720F and governed by 38 CFR 17.500. The Omvig Act directed the VA to develop a comprehensive veteran suicide prevention program, of which the crisis line is the centerpiece.
Yes. Family members, friends, and anyone concerned about a veteran can call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net. Crisis counselors are trained to help callers support veterans in their lives, provide guidance on warning signs, and develop approaches for connecting the veteran with professional help.
Free. Confidential. 24/7. No enrollment required. They're there for you — right now.
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