Veterans Crisis Line — 988, Press 1

If you are a veteran in crisis, help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You do not need to be enrolled in VA care. You do not need a veteran ID. You do not need to explain or justify. Call 988 and press 1. The people on the other end are specifically trained to help veterans and their families.

Immediate Crisis Help

Veterans Crisis Line:
Call: 988, then press 1
Text: 838255
Chat online: VeteransCrisisLine.net
Free, confidential, 24/7. You do not need to be enrolled in VA care to use this service.

Smartphone resting face-down on a nightstand beside a glowing lamp

Who Can Use the Veterans Crisis Line

The Veterans Crisis Line serves:

Active duty service members of all branches
National Guard and Reserve members
Veterans of any service era — Vietnam, Gulf War, OEF/OIF/OND, and any other period
Veterans with any discharge characterization — including other-than-honorable
Family members and friends of veterans who are concerned about a veteran

You do not need to be enrolled in VA healthcare. You do not need to produce a DD-214. You can call anonymously if you prefer.

What Happens When You Call

The Veterans Crisis Line is staffed by responders who are either veterans themselves or have specific training in military culture, trauma, and crisis response. A typical call:

You dial 988 and press 1 when prompted
A responder answers, usually within seconds
They ask what is happening and listen — without judgment
Depending on the situation, they may offer immediate support, safety planning, connection to local VA crisis services, or emergency dispatch if you are in immediate danger
If you consent, they can coordinate follow-up care, including contact with your local VA mental health team
If you prefer to stay anonymous, they can support you without collecting identifying information

Why Calling Is Safe

Free: No cost, no insurance requirement
Confidential: Information is not shared with law enforcement, employers, or family without your consent (except in specific imminent-safety situations)
No consequences for VA benefits: Calling the crisis line does not affect your VA disability rating, healthcare eligibility, or security clearance
Anonymous option: You can receive help without giving your name
No minimum crisis threshold: You do not need to be actively suicidal to use the line. Any crisis — emotional, relational, financial, substance-related — is valid.

If You Are Supporting Someone Else

Family members and friends concerned about a veteran can also use the Veterans Crisis Line. The responders are trained to help you figure out how to support your veteran, what warning signs to watch for, and how to encourage your veteran to get help. Coaching Into Care (1-888-823-7458) is a separate VA service specifically for family members. More on Coaching Into Care.

Warning Signs to Take Seriously

If you are a veteran or you know a veteran who is:

Talking about wanting to die, wanting to disappear, or feeling like a burden
Researching methods of suicide
Giving away possessions or putting affairs in order unexpectedly
Withdrawing from friends, family, or usual activities
Experiencing extreme mood changes
Increasing substance use
Acting recklessly or showing increased anger
Expressing hopelessness or feeling trapped
Having dramatic sleep changes
Saying goodbye to people in a final way

Any one of these is worth a conversation. Multiple signs, or an escalation pattern, warrant immediate outreach to the Veterans Crisis Line.

Other Crisis Resources

SAMHSA National Helpline

1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day treatment referral and information service for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Not veteran-specific, but comprehensive and well-resourced.

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (General Public)

988
The 988 number connects callers to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. For veterans, pressing 1 routes to the Veterans Crisis Line specifically. Without pressing 1, callers reach the general Lifeline, which is also trained and effective.

Crisis Text Line

Text HOME to 741741
Not veteran-specific, but offers text-based crisis support for those who prefer texting to calling.

Trans Lifeline

1-877-565-8860
For transgender veterans and those supporting them, staffed by transgender operators.

The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Youth Focus)

1-866-488-7386
For LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly youth, including veterans.

When to Go to the Emergency Department

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of suicide, self-harm, or medical crisis:

Call 911
Go to the nearest emergency department
Call 988 (Veterans Crisis Line) if you cannot safely get to an ED

VA and most community hospitals will evaluate anyone in a mental health crisis. You do not need to be enrolled or insured to receive emergency psychiatric evaluation.

Cannabis Use and Crisis

If your cannabis use is part of the crisis — whether you are trying to stop and struggling, experiencing cannabis-related anxiety or paranoia, or using cannabis to cope with overwhelming symptoms — the Veterans Crisis Line can help. Responders are trained to handle substance-related crises without judgment. They will not contact law enforcement, file reports to your employer, or affect your VA benefits based on what you tell them.

Calling the Veterans Crisis Line is a strength, not a weakness. Reaching out for help when you need it is exactly what the line exists for, and it is a predictor of better outcomes across every population we have data on. If you are hesitating because you do not feel your crisis is "bad enough," the answer is still to call. The responders are there to help you figure out what you need.