As the DOD continues to encourage and promote help-seeking among our service members and their families, we must ensure they have access to the most up to date information and resources. Toward this effort, updated calling information for outside the continental United Status (OCONUS) access to the Veterans/Military Crisis Line (VCL/MCL) shall be widely disseminated from the Pentagon down to the individual unit level as outlined below. These OCONUS numbers have been expanded to service command areas, which enables broader access to support services for service members, their families, and the greater military community in our overseas locations.

To ensure broader access to supports, the VCL/MCL has created the following specific geographical region/command contact numbers that should be disseminated widely:

• Northern Command: Dial 988 then Press 1

• Indo-Pacific Command: Call +1 844-702-5493 (off base) or DSN 988 (on base)

• European Command: Call+ 1 844-702-5495 (off base) or DSN 988 (on base)

• Central Command: Call +1 855-422-7719 (off base) or DSN 988 (on base)

• Africa Command: Call +1 888-482-6054 (offbase) or DSN 988 (on base)

• Southern Command: Call+ 1 866-989-9599 (off base) or DSN 988 (on base)

Additional information can be found at https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/.../military-crisis-line/.

VCL/MCL CONUS access is available to service members, veterans, and their families:

• Call: 988 and press 1

• Visit: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

• Chat: Text with a Crisis Line responder - Send a text message to 838255 or through https://VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat

Finally, the 988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24/7 in the U.S., and can be contacted using the below:

• Call: 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

• Visit: https://988lifeline.org/

• Chat: Text with a Crisis Line responder - Send a text message to 838255

Ensuring access to these potentially life-saving resources around the globe is an essential part of our commitment to "Taking Care of Our People." Our service members, veterans, and their families are our greatest strength, and it is incumbent on us to provide them with access to the assistance they need to help them through their most difficult times.