A suicidal Air Force veteran in Florida says he was put on hold multiple times Saturday as he attempted to place a call to the Veterans Suicide Hotline.
Ted Koran, who was given the number by the James Haley VA Center in Tampa after his wife died of cancer six months ago, told a local CBS affiliate that he listened to recordings for 10 minutes, hung up, then tried again two more times.
“I had to sit there patiently, in emotional distress, in tears, wanting to give up, desperately needing someone to talk to,” Mr. Koran told the station. “I was missing my wife. … The very ones that are supposed to be there for me let me down.”
The veteran said adopted rescue animals he took in with his wife helped him survive.
The director of the call center told CBS that more than 1,000 individuals contact the hotline every day.
“We’re asking for more staff and better technology,” the director said.
During its investigation, the station was given a recording by one veteran who was put on hold for 36 minutes.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.