Veterans Crisis Line
The caring professionals at the Veterans Crisis Line are specially trained and experienced in helping Veterans of all ages and circumstances. Many of the responders are Veterans themselves and understand what Veterans and their families and friends have been through and the challenges Veterans of all ages and service eras face.
At a glance
- Operator
- Department of Veterans Affairs (Veterans Health Administration)
- Access
- Public
- Last updated
“Last verified” means a LogTool editor checked this entry against its source; “Last updated” is the entry’s own date, carried over when this directory was migrated.
Contact
- Commercial
- 988 then Press 1 (legacy number 800-273-8255 then Press 1 still works); text 838255
To reach the Veterans Crisis Line — free, confidential, 24/7, and no VA enrollment required — Dial 988 then Press 1, text 838255, or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat. TTY users: use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. The previous number, 1-800-273-8255 then Press 1, still works. Calling from overseas (Military Crisis Line): PACOM +1 844-702-5493, EUCOM +1 844-702-5495, CENTCOM +1 855-422-7719, AFRICOM +1 888-482-6054, SOUTHCOM +1 866-989-9599 (off base), or DSN 988 on base.
The caring professionals at the Veterans Crisis Line are specially trained and experienced in helping Veterans of all ages and circumstances. Many of the responders are Veterans themselves and understand what Veterans and their families and friends have been through and the challenges Veterans of all ages and service eras face.
Launched in 2007, the Veterans Crisis Line started with 14 trained responders working out of a call center in Canandaigua, N.Y., and has grown to include online chat and text service with 1,100 responders in 3 call center locations. VA reports more than 10.1 million calls, more than 603,000 texts, and more than 1.17 million chats; more than 2.0 million referrals to VA suicide prevention coordinators; and more than 461,000 dispatches of emergency services (data last updated July 2026).
In 2011, the National Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline was renamed the Veterans Crisis Line to encourage Veterans and their families and friends to make the call. People who know a Veteran best may be the first to recognize emotional distress and reach out for support when issues reach a crisis point—and well before a Veteran is at risk of suicide.
To make sure all Veterans and their loved ones are aware of the Veterans Crisis Line, VA is coordinating with communities and partners nationwide to let Veterans and their loved ones know that support is available whenever, if ever, they need it.