VA revamping suicide prevention campaign

The Department of Veterans Affairs will soon launch a new suicide prevention campaign that focuses on heading off a potential suicide before it reaches the crisis point and is asking The American Legion to help spread the word.

The “It’s Your Call” campaign revolves around the newly named National Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline (800-273-8255, press 1). The new name, the Veterans Crisis Line, establishes a unique identity and is designed to get veterans and their families to make a call for help long before suicide is being pondered.

The line, available 24 hours a day and seven days a week, has answered more than 390,000 calls and has made more than 13,000 life-saving rescues since its launch.

The rebranding is a national outreach effort to increase awareness and use of the Veterans Crisis Line and confidential online chat service, support and promote broader VA suicide prevention efforts, and promote help-seeking behaviors among veterans at risk of suicide and other mental health problems.

The rebranding emphasizes the “Press 1” option for veterans and family members who call the Veterans Crisis Line, ensuring their call is immediately transferred to the VA’s call center in Canandaigua, N.Y., which is staffed with professional responders trained and dedicated to serving veterans and their families. New messaging will reinforce the confidentiality of the Veterans Crisis Line for both veterans and their family members, who may be the first to realize a veteran is in crisis.

The American Legion has been actively involved with the VA’s suicide prevention efforts, and now Legionnaires will have the opportunity to spread the word about the new campaign and Crisis Line through a variety of promotional materials – including posters, print ads, online ads, wallet cards, magnets and coasters. The promotional materials, which include ads targeted toward specific demographics, will be available electronically in the near future. Legionnaires also will have the opportunity to set up VA training for state, district and local Legionnaires, as well as and refer veterans to VA for assistance.

Check back to www.legion.org for updates on the campaign.

For more information about VA’s suicide prevention efforts, click here.