Veterans Crisis Line Turned Into Veteran In Line Hanging Up

Vets describe crisis line runaround 
Texas man records 36 minutes on hold
Standard Times Amanda Kost and Isaac Wolf
Feb 21, 2015

Matt Anzur/Scripps News When veterans in crisis pick up the phone for help, their calls are directed to the Veterans Crisis Line call center on the VA campus in Canandaigua, N.Y.

On an evening last March, 42-year-old Dedra Hughes’ thoughts turned to suicide. The Army veteran, who had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder five years earlier, had split with her boyfriend days before. She was unemployed and had stopped taking classes. And she was convinced her two daughters would be better off without her.

Sitting on the floor of her suburban Chicago living room, Hughes attempted to slash her wrist but didn’t draw blood, and says she passed out from anxiety. Her 12-year-old discovered her there on the floor with the knife beside her.

Hughes decided that night to turn to the national Veterans Crisis Line, a 24/7 service that promises an immediate, open line to professional help. But when Hughes phoned, she said, her call went straight to hold. After several minutes, she became frustrated and hung up.

“I would never call the hotline again,” said Hughes. She said she needed to quickly get to someone that night who could give her help and reassurance.

“That’s what I wanted,” she said. “Someone to make me feel that I mattered.” After reaching out to a local veterans group, someone arrived at her home that night.
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