A veteran from Central Arkansas saved his life by dialing 988

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – On Oct. 25, retired Air Force Staff Sergeant Chris Weatherington of Plumerville decided to move on with his life, but he almost didn’t make it.

“It was my 51st birthday and I was at the lowest point of my life,” Weatherington recalled.

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He went to a hotel room in Little Rock to end his life, but three numbers on a flyer next to his bed made him hesitate. The numbers were there 988Suicide and crisis prevention hotline. As a veteran, he pressed “1” and was paired with another veteran.

“He was very good at what he did,” Weatherington said. “He listened when he needed to listen and spoke when he needed to talk.”

The retired veteran continued that they spent an hour crying, laughing and enjoying the little things. When asked if he wanted someone to be with him in person, Weatherington replied, “Yes,” and the veterans, who were also Little Rock police officers, met with him for almost another hour.

They asked if everything was OK, that the ambulance was checking on him, and if he wanted to be taken to a hospital facility, but he decided he wanted to go home, contacted someone close to him, and slept on it.

“They won’t take you to the hospital,” Weatherington said. “They’re going to do all these things that you’re afraid of, so you have to call, and if you call, you’ll get help.”

A day later, he contacted the VA. Laura Watlington is the suicide prevention program manager at the Central Arkansas Veterans Health System.

“The VA’s number one priority is suicide prevention,” she said.

Watlington’s social workers, therapists and medical providers helped Chris get what he needed in every area. He now has current medications, a therapist, and weekly classes he attends to help with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Officials said the suicide prevention program manager has been in the position for 10 years, and local calls have increased noticeably in the last two years since the switch to 988. Nationwide, the number of people using the hotline has increased by more than 20% from the previous number, 800-273-8255.

988 was launched in the summer of 2022 to save the lives of people in crisis. During the first two years of operation of the hotline, there were over 10 million calls, text messages and chats. One in seven are veterans.

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Veterans die by suicide more than 50% more often than non-veterans, according to Veterans Affairs.

The numbers tell the story of the battle fought every day at home. AND 2021 study showed four times the suicide rate among veterans compared to those who had been in combat since 9/11. The difference has only increased.

For a vet calling 988, it’s like calling for reinforcements to help in a fight. When a veteran presses “1,” they will receive assistance tailored to their needs.

Part of the fight was to push back against the stigma, which is why Chris Weatherington of Plumerville felt compelled to speak out.

So when you call 988, veterans can press one to get help tailored to their needs, but there is still a stigma. So Weatherington felt compelled to speak out.

“I hope that someone else calls and needs to know that there will be no stigma about this call,” Weatherington said. “It saved lives not only because it prevented suicide. It saved my life because now I have someone to call.”

Weatherington has difficulty walking. He was injured by a collapsed trench, which resulted in multiple back injuries and ended his service during Desert Storm. His greatest hope is that sharing his story will help someone remember and use 988.

“You don’t have to be in a crisis to call the Veterans Crisis Line,” Watlington said. “Even though it’s in the title. We want to help you before you fall into crisis.”

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Calls can be anonymous. Share information as needed. Weatherington said no police report was filed. No job or family will know if the person you are talking to doesn’t share.

“The conversation I started with was something like, ‘Hey, I’m going to do this.’ What do you think? it has done a lot of good for me and for many people who now care for me,” Weatherington said.

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