VA Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Week of June 29, 2009

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is advertising its "VA Suicide Prevention Lifeline" on public transportation buses in 124 communities across the country until Sept. 1, 2009. The cities currently seeing the ad on their public transportation were carefully selected based on the availability of that transportation and the suicide and attempted suicide rates in the area. VA officials also looked at the current call volume from those cities and whether the ads could make a difference. The VA Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) is staffed by trained mental health professionals prepared to deal with immediate crises 24 hours a day, seven days a week.