A recent report by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General found the VA’s Veterans Crisis Line performed very effectively during the coronavirus pandemic, Stars and Stripes reports.

“The OIG was impressed with [Veterans Crisis Line] leaders’ and employees’ efforts to … ensure that the [hotline] met its mission to provide immediate access to crisis intervention services during the COVID-19 pandemic,” wrote the watchdog office.

The OIG also noted that the VA performed exceedingly well especially during the department’s shift to telework at the beginning of the pandemic. Despite the shift to remote work and an increase in calls, employees were able to answer calls within three rings.

Calls to the hotline were the highest in March with responders handling 56,386 calls, an 11% from the previous month.

The Veterans Crisis Line returned to pre-pandemic call levels at the end of May.

Photo by VA