Veterans Crisis Line for Veterans in Berks County
The Veterans Crisis Line gives veterans a direct way to reach a crisis counselor right away: dial 988, then press 1. Berks County Veterans Affairs lists it for local veterans as a dedicated crisis line for veterans to call for immediate assistance. You can also text 838255, or read more at veteranscrisisline.net.
Dialing 988 connects callers to the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and callers are given the option to reach the Veterans Crisis Line by pressing 1. 988 can be used by anyone, at any time, at no cost, including people looking for help for a loved one experiencing a mental health crisis. Support is confidential, free, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Callers are directed to a local 988 call center where trained professionals are waiting to listen and assist. If a local call center does not answer within 60 seconds, the call is routed to one of Pennsylvania's in-state backup 988 call centers, and if a regional center is unavailable, to the national backup network, which can assess the crisis and connect you to local help. If needed, a counselor can activate a mobile mental health crisis team that will arrive on site, provide therapeutic interventions, or make referrals for outpatient services or transportation for further evaluation. The older Lifeline phone number, 800-273-8255, remains available.
When you dial 988, pressing 2 instead reaches a Spanish speaker, and you can text "AYUDA" to 988. The pages do not say whether the veterans option itself is answered in Spanish.
For questions about county veterans services, and not for a crisis, Berks County Veterans Affairs, also called the Etchberger Veterans Service Center, is at 20 Commerce Drive, Wyomissing, PA 19610. Its general number is (610) 378-5601, and you can press 0 to speak with a representative. That office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 4:00pm, and closed on holidays. Those hours belong to the county office; the crisis line itself is answered around the clock.
Source: berkspa.gov/departments/veterans-affairs, read September 18, 2026.
The details
In 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s words
988 is a dedicated crisis line for Veterans to call for immediate assistance. Click learn more below or text to 838255
Organization
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
About this listing
This listing summarizes publicly available information from berkspa.gov/departments/veterans-affairs. Last recorded review: September 18, 2026. Contact the provider to confirm eligibility, hours and availability before you go. If something here is wrong, tell us.