VA hospital crisis line call center coming to Atlanta
ATLANTA (CBS46) -
VA Secretary Robert McDonald announced a major part of his plan at the Disabled American Veterans Convention, and it involves Atlanta. They're opening a second crisis line call center here by the end of the year.
"That's going to mean 200 more responders ready to talk with veterans in crisis . . . 24 hours a day," said McDonald.
U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson played an important role in helping bring the facility to Georgia.
"We've got to make sure no one at risk for suicide can't get an appointment and can't get a timely interview," said Isakson.
The VA is trying to improve its service, and its reputation, after veteran suicide statistics and other alarming issues were revealed by insiders in 2014.
Attendees of the convention said they are eager to see proposed changes in the VA Healthcare system come to life.
"We served our country. We were promised things. Sometimes we got them, sometimes we didn't," said North Carolina DAV representative, Claridge Rice.
He describes one of the familiar issues he said most veterans associate with Veterans Affairs.
"The main complaint, if you ask anyone about the VA, it's the claim system. It takes them a long time to get the claim. Then you don't get what the claim says you're supposed to get," said Rice.
The latest figure shows 7400 veterans are taking their own life each year. It's a number that our city now has a chance to actively reduce.s, Weather & Sports
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