Mix-up sends crisis hotline callers to sex line
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Imagine calling a crisis hotline and getting a sex line instead.
That's what apparently happened to Vietnam veteran Jeff Clark.
Clark said as he was leaving the Bakersfield Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic on Jan. 12 a staff member wrote down the number (800) 873-TALK and said it was a 24-hour suicide prevention hotline.
At the time, Clark said he wasn't at the point of suicide, so he didn't use the number. But, on Monday, a friend called needing help.
"She was in a bad situation," said Clark. "She asked me if I knew a suicide hotline number."
Clark sent her the number and quickly found out that it wasn't right.
The number that Clark was given was (800) 873-TALK, however the actual number for the National Suicide Prevention hotline is (800) 273-TALK.
"I think this is the biggest typo that's hit the United States or the world," said Clark.
While it was a typo, it's one that isn't limited to just a handwritten note from the local VA. A Web search of the (800) 873-TALK number reveals more than a dozen sites about suicide outreach, not a sex line.
Eyewitness News contacted the VA about the mix-up.
"We're terribly sorry that this happened," said Dave Bayard, the VA director of the Western Office of Publicity. Bayard added that the Bakersfield office was contacted about the mistake and said the staff is checking throughout the whole clinic to make sure that every place that would have given out a suicide hotline number is correct.
"We're taking the best steps we can possibly take to make sure this doesn't happen again," said Bayard.
While the apology is a good start, Clark said he hopes it's not too late.
"When you're frustrated to the point you're calling a suicide hotline number, you really need someone to talk to," explained Clark. "If you're desperate, this could push a lot of people over the edge."
All of the printed materials at the Bakersfield VA were checked, and those do have the correct phone number.
That's what apparently happened to Vietnam veteran Jeff Clark.
Clark said as he was leaving the Bakersfield Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic on Jan. 12 a staff member wrote down the number (800) 873-TALK and said it was a 24-hour suicide prevention hotline.
At the time, Clark said he wasn't at the point of suicide, so he didn't use the number. But, on Monday, a friend called needing help.
"She was in a bad situation," said Clark. "She asked me if I knew a suicide hotline number."
Clark sent her the number and quickly found out that it wasn't right.
The number that Clark was given was (800) 873-TALK, however the actual number for the National Suicide Prevention hotline is (800) 273-TALK.
"I think this is the biggest typo that's hit the United States or the world," said Clark.
While it was a typo, it's one that isn't limited to just a handwritten note from the local VA. A Web search of the (800) 873-TALK number reveals more than a dozen sites about suicide outreach, not a sex line.
Eyewitness News contacted the VA about the mix-up.
"We're terribly sorry that this happened," said Dave Bayard, the VA director of the Western Office of Publicity. Bayard added that the Bakersfield office was contacted about the mistake and said the staff is checking throughout the whole clinic to make sure that every place that would have given out a suicide hotline number is correct.
"We're taking the best steps we can possibly take to make sure this doesn't happen again," said Bayard.
While the apology is a good start, Clark said he hopes it's not too late.
"When you're frustrated to the point you're calling a suicide hotline number, you really need someone to talk to," explained Clark. "If you're desperate, this could push a lot of people over the edge."
All of the printed materials at the Bakersfield VA were checked, and those do have the correct phone number.