Veterans Affairs suicide hotline received more than 35,000 calls during Afghanistan evacuation

By Mike Brest
August 31, 2021 - 5:31 PM


The Veterans Affairs suicide hotline received an increase in calls during the final two weeks of the U.S. military's withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Veterans placed more than 35,000 calls to the Veterans Crisis Line between Aug. 13 and 29, according to VA data provided to the Washington Examiner, which coincides with the time period in which the U.S. military and coalition forces were embarking on what would become one of the largest airlifts in history as they worked around the clock to evacuate foreign nationals and Afghan allies who could be at risk under the Taliban regime.

'HUNDREDS' OF US CITIZENS LEFT BEHIND AS TROOPS LEAVE AFGHANISTAN

There was an average of 2,060 calls a day during that time frame, with the most, 2,570, occurring on Monday, Aug. 16, when Kabul fell under Taliban control.

The VA analyzes changes in call data volume by comparing the day of the week and month with the previous year, a spokesperson explained to the Washington Examiner. There were approximately 2,300 more calls during this year’s two-week period than the year prior, accounting for a roughly 7% increase from year to year.

There were 377 active-duty service members who died by suicide in 2020, up from 348 the year before, according to the Department of Defense Quarterly Suicide Report. That number has steadily increased, and in 2016, there were 280 such deaths.

The VA is starting a new awareness campaign for the month of September, which is Suicide Prevention Month.

The campaign urges veterans to reach out, hear others’ stories, be prepared, find resources, and spread the word in an effort to “act now” so they can “prevent Veteran suicide later.”

Two veterans who have suffered personal tragedies are also working on their own initiative in an attempt to thwart veteran suicides. Retired Staff Sgt. Leroy Petry, a Medal of Honor recipient, and Frank Larkin, a former Navy SEAL and Secret Service agent, are leading the efforts for a “National Warrior Call Day,” which would be a specific day to promote veterans reaching out to each other.

Reps. Liz Cheney and Elaine Luria introduced a resolution in June that, if passed, would designate Nov. 21, 2021, for the commemoration.

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