In its first year, VA's suicide hot line for veterans receives 55,000 calls

The latest: More than 22,000 veterans have sought help from a special suicide hot line in its first year, and 1,221 suicides have been averted, the government says.

The Veterans Affairs Department teamed up with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to launch the hot line last July after years of criticism that the VA wasn't doing enough to help soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The department has spent $2.9 million on the hot line thus far.

Volume of calls: The hot line receives as many as 250 calls per day -- double the average number when it began. The VA estimates that every year 6,500 veterans take their own lives. The VA's mental health director, Ira Katz, said in an e-mail last December that of the 18 veterans who commit suicide each day, four to five of them are under VA care, and 12,000 veterans under VA care are attempting suicide each year.

Year-end figures: The hot line, linked to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, received 55,000 callers in its first year, including veterans and people concerned about them, according to figures out today.

Vets helping vets: One-third of the 40 specially trained counselors are veterans themselves. "We try to get them [callers] to talk about their situation and what they remember and see if they can identify exactly what their issues are. I think there's a comfort in knowing that they can get some help from people who do understand what combat stress is like," said Janet Kemp, national suicide prevention coordinator for the VA.

Follow-up help: From the call center, counselors can instantly check a veteran's medical records and then connect the caller to local VA suicide prevention coordinators for follow-up, monitoring and care at local VA medical centers. Kemp said that since the hot line started, 106 veterans have been steered to free medical care from the VA.

Rescue figures: Kemp said the hot line was put in place specifically for those veterans who don't get enough help until it's too late. "They have indicated to us that they are in extreme danger, either they have guns in their hand or they're standing on a bridge, or they've already swallowed pills," she said. Kemp said 1,221 veterans who were in such situations were rescued during the hot line's first year.

More help coming: The VA is preparing for the eventual return of a large number of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. The VA recently got enough money to double its suicide prevention staff and is planning to hire 212 more people soon.

Where to call: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day by calling 800-273-TALK (8255).

ASSOCIATED PRESS