What Happens When You Dial 988 and Press 1

The Veterans Crisis Line is not a report line. It is not connected to the VA benefits system. It will not trigger a wellness check unless you explicitly ask for one. For a lot of veterans, that last part is the reason they never call. Let’s fix that.

The three ways to reach it

• Call: Dial 988, then press 1
• Text: Send any message to 838255
• Chat: Visit veteranscrisisline.net

All three are staffed 24 hours a day by responders, many of whom are veterans themselves. Every conversation is confidential.

What the call is like

When you dial 988 and press 1, you are connected to a VCL responder within a minute. They will ask your name (you can give a first name only), whether you are safe right now, and what is going on. There is no script you have to follow. If you just need to talk, that is the call. If you need immediate help, they can connect you to local emergency services — but only if you agree.

It is not just for suicidal crisis

The VCL is also the right call if you are:

• Struggling with sleep, anger, or flashbacks and don’t know where to start
• A family member worried about a veteran in your life
• An active-duty service member, National Guard, or Reserve

One call. Confidential. Free. Any hour.