Crisis Support

Help is here right now.

Free and confidential support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You do not need to be enrolled in VA benefits or care to use it.

Veterans Crisis Line

Call

988

Then press 1 for veterans

Text

838255

Standard message rates apply

Chat online with a responder
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VA S.A.V.E. Framework

S.A.V.E. is a four-step protocol from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It teaches anyone (friend, family, coworker, stranger) how to recognize warning signs and get someone the help they need.

  1. S

    Signs

    Learn the warning signs of suicidal thinking and behavior. Sudden isolation, giving away belongings, talk of hopelessness, sleep and appetite changes, increased substance use.

  2. A

    Ask

    Ask the most important question directly, without softening it: “Are you thinking of killing yourself?” Asking does not put the idea in someone’s head. It saves lives.

  3. V

    Validate

    Acknowledge their experience. Don’t argue, judge, or minimize. Listen without trying to fix. Show them you take what they’re feeling seriously.

  4. E

    Encourage and Expedite

    Encourage professional help and expedite getting them to it. Stay with them. Call 988 together. Drive them to the ER if you cannot reach a provider.

VA S.A.V.E. Training (PDF)PsychArmor S.A.V.E. course
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Illinois + Chicago

988 is the first call. These lines exist for the days between crises: for support, for someone to talk to, for a family member trying to figure out where to start.

  • Illinois Warm Line (peer support)

    Non-crisis emotional support from certified peer-support specialists.

    Mon to Sat, 8am to 8pm CT

    1-866-359-7953

  • NAMI Chicago Helpline

    Free mental-health navigation, referrals, and family support.

    Mon to Fri, 9am to 8pm CT

    1-833-626-4244

  • Illinois Call4Calm (text)

    Free emotional support by text. Text TALK (English) or HABLAR (Spanish).

    24/7

    Text 552020

  • Community Counseling Centers of Chicago

    Behavioral-health services for veterans and civilians on the north side.

    Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm CT

    (773) 728-2300

Find your local VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator

Every VA medical center has a coordinator trained to connect veterans and families with immediate and long-term care.

Locator on mentalhealth.va.gov
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Where the Foundation fits

Esprit de Corps Foundation is not a crisis service or clinical provider. We do not take crisis calls. What we do is build the community that surrounds a veteran on the days when a crisis line isn’t what they need: recreation, service, growth, and belonging.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please use the numbers above. When the crisis passes, we will be here for the long walk that follows.

Our programsContact us