Suicide hotline working well, VA chief says

[unhappycamper]

Manuel Balce Ceneta / The Associated Press Outgoing Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson testifies in Washington on Sept. 18 before the House Veterans Affairs Committee. Nicholson said more than 4,500 veterans have contacted the VA's 24-hour suicide prevention hotline since the first call was received on July 25.

Suicide hotline working well, VA chief says
By Rick Maze - Staff weiter
Posted : Tuesday Sep 18, 2007 14:49:21 EDT

Outgoing Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson said the VA’s new suicide hotline has saved 56 lives in its short history.

More than 4,500 veterans have contacted the 24-hour suicide prevention hotline since the first call was received on July 25, with 346 of the callers referred to a counselor, said Nicholson, who will step down Oct. 1 to return to the private sector.

Of those referred to a counselor, 56 were “rescues,” 194 were transferred to community hotlines where they could get immediate help and 165 were admitted to VA hospitals.

Nicholson provided the statistics during a Tuesday appearance before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee is what is expected to be his final congressional testimony as VA secretary.

“Because of suicides among the veterans for who we care, I directed the hiring of suicide prevention counselors at each of VA’s 153 hospitals. They are now on station,” he said.

Additionally, Nicholson said the VA has hired 100 new outreach coordinators to work with returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. Each of the counselors is a veteran of one of the two wars, he said, something he said helps them relate to veterans needing care.


Rest of article at : http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/09/military_nicholson_va_suicide_070918w/



uhc comment: About fucking time.