Three ways to reach a real person on the Veterans Crisis Line — free, confidential, 24/7. You do not have to be enrolled in VA care.
Call 988, press 1
Veterans Crisis Line — 24/7, free, confidential
Text 838255
Reach a VCL responder by text message
Online chat at veteranscrisisline.net
Encrypted, anonymous, no account needed
A trained VA responder picks up — many are veterans themselves. They listen first. They will not send police unless you're at imminent risk and you ask for, or accept, that help. You can stay anonymous. You can hang up any time.
Call 911 if life is in immediate danger. Otherwise call 988 and press 1 yourself — you can stay on the line with them. Put time and distance between them and any firearm or stockpiled meds. A free gun lock is available at Project ChildSafe and most VA medical centers.
Valor is built for the other 23 hours of the day — squad check-ins, PTSD tracking, sobriety, VA claims help, and a peer who actually answers.
See what Valor does