Military Crisis Intervention Information

Military Crisis Intervention Resources

• CareForTheTroops Therapist Database

Consider searching for a therapist that has volunteered their contact information and want to work with military families members. Click Here

• Suicide Prevention and Hotline - Call Military OneSource



On July 3, 2009, the Department of Veterans Affairs launched a pilot on-line Chat Service, in partnership with Lifeline.  The Veterans Chat Service is located at the VA National Suicide Prevention Hotline.


Veterans Chat enables Veterans, their families and friends to go online where they can anonymously chat with a trained VA counselor. If the chats are determined to be a crisis, the counselor can take immediate steps to transfer the chatter to the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline, where further counseling and referral services are provided and crisis intervention steps can be taken.

The online feature is intended to reach out to all Veterans who may or may not be enrolled in the VA health care system and provide them with online access to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline and provides Veterans with an anonymous way to access VA’s suicide prevention services.
Veterans (and family members or friends) can access Veterans Chat through the Lifeline suicide prevention website.


Know the Signs ... Watch for these key suicide warning signs, and provide the Lifeline number to anyone exhibiting them.

• Talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself
• Trying to get pills, guns, or other ways to harm oneself
• Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide
• Hopelessness
• Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge
• Acting in a reckless or risky way
• Feeling trapped, like there is no way out
• Saying or feeling there's no reason for living.
• Military OneSource Web site or call 800.342.9647

Military OneSource HOTLINE is an excellent resource for Military, Family Members (all generations of the extended family), and even Therapists. They can provide referrals to therapists for face-to-face counseling. They can also provide counseling by telephone or via on-line methods. They are available 7/24/365. There is also a wealth of material that can be ordered and used to help provide support to all members of the family.

• Defense Center of Excellence (DCOE) Outreach Center Web site

Excellence resource site with material for ALL members of the family

The DCOE Outreach Center can be reached at 866-966-1020 or email using this email ID Resources@DCoEOutreach.org

• State Resources - Community Service Boards (CSBs)

There are 26 CSBs in Georgia covering every County. CLICK HERE and go to their website to locate the CSB closest to you. They work on a sliding scale and will see veterans per arrangements they have made with the VA.

CSBs will created to provide public disability services (mental health, developmental disabilities and addictive diseases [MHDDAD]) which are community-based and comprehensive in range; involve consumers and their families in their design and governance; and are provided in a cost-effective manner in the least restrictive setting.

• Georgia Vet Centers:

Vet Centers provide readjustment counseling and outreach services to all veterans who served in any combat zone. Services are also available for their family members for military related issues. Veterans have earned these benefits through their service and all are provided at no cost to the veteran or family.

If you are near any of these than CLICK HERE and follow the prompts to get the location and contact details of the Vet Center nearest you.

The locations are Atlanta, Lawrenceville, Macon, Marietta, and Savannah

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Details about Military OneSource

Soldiers and families in need of crisis intervention support or authoritative information on psychological health and traumatic brain injury have two important resources available to them 1)- Military OneSource's Crisis Intervention Line and, 2)- the Defense Center of Excellence (DCOE) for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury's Outreach Center help line.

Military OneSource offers a free phone and online service for active-duty, Guard and Reserve members (including Individual Ready Reserve) AND their families. Credentialed consultants offer support and practical solutions 24/7/365. Military OneSource consultants assess the caller's needs and provide referral to health care professionals who can arrange face-to-face follow-up counseling.

CONUS (Continental US) callers can reach the Military OneSource 24/7 Crisis intervention line at 1-800-342-9647, or at their Web site. Soldiers and families overseas should refer to the Military OneSource Web site for specific dialing instructions from their location.

The Defense Center of Excellence (DCOE) Outreach Center provides 24/7 comprehensive and authoritative psychological health (PH) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) information, tools and resources for warriors, families, leaders, clinicians and the community. It helps the servicemembers, veterans and their families by connecting them with the resources they need to promote their resilience, recovery, and reintegration.

What has the Army done?

The Army remains committed to the health, safety and well-being of its Soldiers, civilians, and families. Army leaders assessed numerous crisis intervention resources before selecting Military OneSource and DCOE as those best suited to help the members of our Army community handle the unique stresses they face.

What will the Army do?

The Army will use every communication tool to 'get the word out' to our Army community that Military OneSource and the DCOE Outreach Center are primary resources for crisis intervention and psychological health/TBI information.

Why is this important to the Army?

The Army will continue to provide Soldiers, civilians and families resources to enhance their physical, mental and spiritual health. The Military OneSource and DCOE Outreach Center are two ways Army leaders can support the resiliency, life-coping skills and well-being of our Army community.

STAND TO Newsletter

The above was highlighted in the June 2, 2009 STAND TO Edition. To view that edition click on the date to the left.
To view the most recent edition of the STAND-TO web newsletter, CLICK HERE.

Additional Resources

Assisting Military Families During Deployment

Ministering to Families Affected by Deployment: Army Chief of Chaplains resource guide www.pcusa.org/peacemaking/iraq/deployedfamilies.pdf

Returning From the War Zone: Guide For Families - resource guide from the VA http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/manuals/GuideforFamilies

Assisting Children During the Deployment Cycle

Military Child Education Coalition – “Living In The New Normal” www.militarychild.org/education/living-in-the-new-normal/

Provides parents, educators, and other concerned adults with information to help them support military children during times of uncertainty, trauma, and grief.

Ways congregations might partner with the Military Child Education Coalition using this curriculum. www.militaryministry.wordpress.com/2007/07/23/living-in-the-new-normal/

Assisting Wounded Families

Veteran’s Administration

www.va.gov - click on locations on the black bar at the top of page to determine the closest VA facility to you

DoD Military website for community connection.

www.ourmilitary.mil/states.aspx Shows what’s happening in support of military families in your state and also lists what specific needs exist

American Legion – Heroes to Hometown Program

www.legion.org/veterans/h2h/faqs

Quality of Life Foundation -

www.qolfoundation.org Work in researching current needs in care for severely wounded families. “Wounded Warrior Family Care Report” and website houses the Searchable Database of Non-Profit Support for Severely Wounded. This Database may be used to learn more about various non-profit organizations working in support of wounded families.

Assisting Survivor Families

Gold Star Wives www.goldstarwives.org/regions-chapters.htm
TAPS www.taps.org

Military Points of Contact

National Guard (State and Local)

To obtain points of connection to your nearest Guard resource www.guardfamily.org/Public/Application/ResourceFinderSearch.aspx

Army Reserve (Regional Centers)

This website will display a map of regional centers and points of contact for connection. www.arfp.org/skins/ARFP/display.aspx?ModuleID=8cde2e88-3052-448c-893d-d0b4b14b31c4&action=display_page&Mode=User&ObjectID=13201b5f-9b26-448d-baad-edc0d826b85b</p>

The Army Community Covenant...

...is tailored at the local level, with civic leaders at both local and state levels participating in covenant signings, commencing on 17 April 2008, recognizing the strength of Army Soldiers and their Families and the support of their local Community. http://www.acsim.army.mil/community_covenant/