After a year, a hotline is proving American soldiers returning from war are having a hard time re-adjusting to life back home, with some turning to suicide as a way out. In the past year, the National Suicide Hotline has received about 22,000 calls from veterans.

The suicide hotline has a special option just for vets that will send their information directly to a center, getting them help not only at that moment on the phone but also in person the next day.

For some, the problem is the battle they can't forget or the friend lost too so. Soldiers making it home are still losing their lives at their own hands. The Veterans Administration is reaching out with a suicide hotline.

Dr. Ramu Komanduri of V.A. Las Vegas said, ”I wish we had done this years ago. I think it is important that we do this and especially with the new war for a new generation of young veterans coming back.”

In practice for just a year, the hotline has been offering help to those who need it sometimes at the last moment.

“We've actually been able to rescue people before something horrific happens. A lot of times, they make this decision impromptu — a last minute decision — so that is why it is critical for us to have it,” he said.

So far, the national hotline has helped 39 veterans here in Southern Nevada, just one call opens the door to help wherever the veteran is.

“They immediately are able to enter the veterans records into the V.A. system and enter the record so that we get a message immediately saying this is a veteran in your community who needs help,” said Dr. Komanduri.

Dr. Komanduri says with suicide already high in Las Vegas, every avenue to reach troubled vets must be used. “We already have an issue in the community, so we want to get a hold of our veterans as quickly as we can and get them into care and treatment.”

Komanduri says many times, soldiers are held back, feeling it would be un-brave to admit they need help, but the hotline allows them to reach out without it being face-to-face.

Dr. Komanduri says although 22,000 calls have been made to the hotline by veterans, he says there are many more that need help and either choose not to get it or don't know where to find it.

He says the more people learn about the hotline, the greater the number grows. The suicide hotline number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

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