Congress Examines Current Suicide Prevention

Week of September 29, 2008

The House Veterans' Affairs Health Subcommittee recently conducted an oversight hearing to examine the effectiveness of the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline. In July 2007, the VA collaborated with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to launch the Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline, a toll-free number (1-800-273-TALK) that is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The opening statements of all the witnesses and an audio recording of the hearing is available on the Committee website.