U.S. veterans can get immediate crisis support by calling 988 and pressing 1, texting 838255, or using the Veterans Crisis Line chat. If someone is in immediate physical or medical danger, call 911 or go to an emergency department. For ongoing care, start with a VA primary care provider, a local VA medical center, or a Vet Center; a diagnosis or VA enrollment is not a prerequisite for contacting the crisis line.
What to do in a crisis
The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day, every day. VA describes the service as private and free, and it is open to veterans and to people concerned about a veteran.
- Call: 988, then press 1.
- Text: 838255.
- Chat: Use the Veterans Crisis Line chat through VA’s Get Help page.
If there is immediate medical danger or a need for emergency response, call 911 or go to an emergency department. A veteran can also go directly to a VA medical center for urgent mental health care. Tell emergency staff the person is a veteran and ask them to contact VA: some eligible veterans and former service members in acute suicidal crisis may qualify for emergency care even if they are not enrolled in VA health care, but eligibility conditions apply. VA’s mental health services page has current access information.
How to start ongoing care through VA
If you already receive VA care
Tell your VA primary care provider what has changed and ask for a mental health appointment or referral. You do not need to arrive with a diagnosis or know which treatment you want.
If you do not have a VA primary care provider
Contact a local VA medical center or call the VA general information line at 800-827-1000 for guidance. VA describes same-day contact options that may include an in-person visit, telehealth, nurse triage, secure messaging, scheduling, or a prescription. The available route depends on the facility and situation; ask what can be arranged when you make contact. VA says, “You’ll start receiving help the day you reach out to us.” See VA mental health services.
What mental health treatment can include
Care is not limited to one format. A clinician can help determine the appropriate mix based on symptoms and circumstances; options VA describes include psychotherapy, medication, peer support, and combinations of care. For depression, VA lists psychotherapy and medication among the available treatments. Start with a VA primary care provider, medical center, or the VA information line to discuss an assessment. VA depression care information.
PTSD-focused services
VA PTSD care may include assessment, medication, individual psychotherapy such as Cognitive Processing Therapy, family therapy, groups, outpatient specialty care, residential treatment, or inpatient care for severe needs. Phone-based telemental health may be available when a veteran is not near a VA clinic; VA may also refer someone to a Vet Center or community provider. VA National Center for PTSD: getting help.
Community and remote options
Vet Centers
Vet Centers offer community-based support. VA’s PTSD guidance says people who served in a combat zone can receive free, private counseling, alcohol and drug assessment, and other support. Eligibility and specific services depend on a person’s circumstances, so contact a local Vet Center to check what applies.
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Telehealth, apps, and self-help
VA also describes phone or video mental health care, mental health apps, and an anonymous self-help portal. These options may help with access or coping, but they are not substitutes for emergency response or clinical care when those are needed. VA PTSD support options.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the prevalence figures do—and do not—say
VA’s 2024 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, Part 2, says 43.4% of recent Veteran VHA users in 2022 had a documented mental-health or substance-use diagnosis. That is a figure for recent VA health care users, not an estimate for all U.S. veterans. In the same report, among veterans who died by suicide in 2022, documented diagnoses included depression for 38.6%, anxiety for 26.1%, PTSD for 24.9%, and alcohol use disorder for 19.6%. Those figures describe suicide decedents, not the veteran population as a whole. Read the VA 2024 report, Part 2.
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