WASHINGTON — The whole idea is to save military veterans' lives, but new questions are being raised about the primary tool to achieve that goal.
It's the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) dedicated dial 9-8-8, press 1 Veterans Crisis Line. A recent VA Office of Inspector General audit raises questions about the program having an insufficient number of supervisors.
The report says the number of supervisors hired did not maintain the previously established supervisor-to-staff ratio of approximately 1 to 10. Complicating matters, the report said, at the time of the review, the ratio had increased to one supervisor responsible for approximately 20 responders.
Part of the report says: "To provide adequate supervision of responders, leaders should ensure the appropriate ratio of supervisors to frontline staff."
The report concludes: "The OIG is concerned that one supervisor overseeing, assessing, and mentoring approximately 20 responders may impact the VCL's ability to identify and remedy quality concerns."
Earlier this week, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough reaffirmed his agency's commitment to the cause, when speaking to the American Legion national convention in New Orleans. McDonough called the problem "a monumental public health crisis."
He added: "How can we be satisfied until every veteran in crisis knows that there is hope? That suicide is preventable. That help is available."
According to the VA's most recent suicide statistics which came out last November, more than 6,300 vets took their own lives in 2021. That's an increase of 411 cases over the prior year.