By Rick Maze - Staff writer
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.
More at http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/09/military_nicholson_va_suicide_070918w/
