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Concerns of Older Veteran Callers to the Veterans Crisis Line
Author(s) -
Rasmussen Kathy A.,
King Deborah A.,
Gould Madelyn S.,
Cross Wendi,
Tang Wan,
Kaukeinen Kimberly,
Tu Xin,
Knox Kerry L.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/sltb.12313
Subject(s) - outreach , medicine , suicide prevention , injury prevention , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , gerontology , occupational safety and health , service member , military personnel , psychiatry , medical emergency , pathology , political science , law
When the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) was implemented, it was uncertain if veterans, and particularly older male veterans, would utilize the service. We examined VCL use by a growing group of veterans at increased risk for suicide: those aged 60 and older. Real‐time clinical data were gathered from a weekly random sampling of calls. Approximately 25% of calls were from veterans aged 60 or older; over 80% reported benefit from the call. Several significant differences in presenting concerns between older and younger callers were found. Targeted outreach to encourage older veterans to use the VCL is suggested.