Program to Prevent Suicide by Veterans Earns Bipartisan Support

Perhaps we should go back to the draft. When sons and daughters of ALL Americans are in the military at the same time, we think more about whether we should be at war at all and what the war should demand of these young people. When the decision makers don't have a real stake in the decision (ie. THEIR kids are not in mortal danger), then it appears they make different decisions. Look at the people who change their beliefs in gun control only after they have a person experience with a shooting. Better choices are made when all Americans suffer the same consequences.

FYI: 85% of military suicides have not seen combat—and 52% never even deployed. A large study of nearly 4 million U.S. service members and veterans found that deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan is not associated with an increased risk of suicide. va.gov

That's great news. Now it's time for the politicians to address homelessness. Sadly, there is an epidemic of homeless Veterans out there

Most veterans now volunteered for military duty, so you have to wonder if something in the psyche of those who end up committing suicide, was there before their service time, not necessarily caused by being in the military. This might be why their numbers are so much higher than the general public rates of suicide. Same for police. A psychological profile that drives a man to be a "warrior" as a profession, in some cases, ends up causing enough despair to end it all. After all, besides the military, or police type jobs, there just isn't much need for warrior types in the workforce.

While I don't pretend to be an expert on military suicides I think there's likely a connection between the way the US has used its military since WWII and suicides. Putting young men in impossible situations like Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan where civilians are killed along with enemy combatants must have deleterious effects on young soldiers. This is a national epidemic that must be treated quickly and without regard to expense. These young men and women gave their all to their country. Now their country must give its all to them.

What about just following the law? There is ample legislation already in place protecting veterans and those serving today -it is simply ignored and/or promised services (including those related to health care) are poorly delivered (private sectors subcontractors seem to be doing quite well though). Remember "Trump has treated the Pentagon budget as sacrosanct, unless he can raid it to pay for his wall” (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/06/opinion/editorials/trump-wall-pentagon.html?searchResultPosition=2).

The rates of suicide (per 100,000) are approximately 6 for women, 11.2 for veteran women, 21.4 for men and 33.4 for veteran men. Obviously, there is something about military service that aggravates suicide. But there is also something about being male which is a bigger problem. I believe that problem is that we aren’t allowed to see men as victims. If they can’t be victims, then they also cannot ask for help. Men have little left except drug and alcohol abuse and suicide. Perhaps military service aggravates this attitude to not ask for help. The media contribute to this attitude. The media focus on female victims. Even this article shows pictures of women, and focuses on women.

These victims were built into the equation. Anything to keep the oil flowing. Who misses them? Nobody who sent them into harm's way.

Suicide by Veterans, along with PTSD, is a clear sign that we can no longer turn a blind eye to what military really is. Military is ultimately about killing and threatening to get our way. And when men and women join the military for an instant gratification that they have somehow magically turned into a "hero," think again about taking a paid job that could ultimately force you to murder other people. Does a true hero kill for money? Does a true hero kill, period? And we all should know by now that "I was just doing my job" isn't a morally acceptable explanation for murder, nor is it heroic in any sense of the word. Men and women - don't take a job that could force you to kill people for money. No amount of money is worth it. Suicide and PTSD are telling us that fact, loud and clear.

Trump and the Republicans say they will do anything for our vets. Yet they take money from the Defense budget that was meant to improve the lives of active duty service men and women and their families and direct it to pay for a worthless wall.

Why doesn't the news ever focus on sexual assault against males in the military? I am so tired of that never getting any attention. Women in "MeToo" and women assaulted in the military get all the resources and attention--the rest of us are ignored like we don't count, as we obviously don't.

“One of the biggest things in the executive order is that it moves the discussion of suicide to a national issue and makes it crosscutting with government agencies and communities . . That is so important when you look at the rising suicide rates around in the nation.” On the surface, veterans & police officers are two very different occupations/professions, they both share some striking similarities: they have placed their lives on the line to save others; the sense that no one could possibly understand the pressures their job entails; no one could remotely identify with the emptiness, loneliness, guilt & fear so many individuals struggle with on a daily, if not hourly basis. I sincerely hope that the program which worked "so well on a small scale with National Guard veterans will reduce suicide nationally" for all veterans. I also sincerely hope that a similar program can be tooled and designed to help the many police officers, nationwide, which struggle with depression and thoughts of suicide. Suicide was the 10th leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming over 47,000 lives. Suicide was the 2nd leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34, and the 4th leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 35 and 54. There were more than twice as many suicides (47,173) in the United States as there were homicides (19,510). National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255 Veterans Crisis Line 800-273-8255

Seriously. What did we think would happen when we went to an all volunteer force which then required multiple tours of combat duty? We have learned from WWI to the present that combat can bring about a disorder we started medically recognizing and calling PTSD only 40 years ago. Before that time it was called everything from shell shock to being too soft. Now the same folks handle all of our wars for years on end. Combat deployment upon combat deployment tends to stack up in the psyche. It may be there are humans who will suffer no negative psychological effects from such a life but I offer they are few and far between. However, if they do exist in sufficient numbers we should figure out a way to identify them and encourage them to serve our country in these continuous combat roles. Otherwise, our overwhelmed service members will continue to become our veterans who will necessarily bear the burdens of this ludicrous approach to our defense. It is time to bring back the draft and have this traumatic burden shared by all. Maybe that might lessen what has become the fatal effects of our international defense posture.

Got to a V.A. hospital sometime. You will walk out a changed person. We have to do more for soldiers, veterans and this suicide crisis. But grateful - this is a start. As a wife of a Vietnam veteran, my heart goes out to all those who are involved in reaching out to assist. It goes without saying, our military members deserve so much more. Please support your legislators on this issue, and please support military members who are serving and those who have served - all of them.

Dealing with the VA's convoluted paperwork system might be the major contributing factor to suicides. I have curled up in a ball on my hospital bed [at home. provided by VA] which had NO MATRESS. I purchased one from Amazon finally. I slept in a recliner for the intervening time. My request for a motorized wheelchair was finally granted. I told the technician who was serving me that, due to my neuropathy I could not keep my feet on this extremely small foot rest. "You will get used to it" I was told. I am not still trying to heal the damage to my toes caused in February by this debacle having run over them in my own wheelchair. I was promised a suitable replacement but it is still not here as of this article. It doesn't matter because I am trapped in my home, unable to enter/exit without 4 med techs to carry me out on a stretcher.. I could go for a long time but what is the point?? The Va will deal with me through benign neglect.

How about not sending them off to wars that were created for American hegemony and profit in the first place? Better still, make a moral decision and refuse to go if you're enlisted. How many atrocities and suffering has there been in the world simply because people were 'just doing their job/what they were ordered to do'.

US$47million for suicide initiative is an insult to the families of 6000 veterans who commit suicide every year. Mental Health engagement, job situation, medical care, social rehabilitation, prevention and treatment of Alcohol and Medication dependence are a few areas need more attention. US involvement overseas cost a lot I wish the department of Defence and Dept. of National Security could put their act together to avoid unnecessary wars and Dept. of Veteran Affairs have some sense at the policy level and service delivery regime to make lives easy for veteran families and American people in general. God Bless Those who suffered in the line of duty.

It is good to see bi-partisan work on this important issue. Let's see more about how this effort to reduce veterans suicide is functioning and what more local communities can do to help.

Anything for our military industrial complex, in spite of our forces not able to single war in last two decades.

Our elder veterans who no longer use the V.A. and most often Vietnam veterans remain at highest risk Post 9/11 vets claiming PTSD have always had the lowest risk of Suicide So why is everyone focused on the Era of War that has few suicides? Is it due to confusion over the term COUNT vs RATE?

6,000 Vets took their own lives each year from 2008 to 2017? This can't be factually correct. That averages to two 9/11s each year taking place within our "great military".

The situation is dire for veterans. This: "...The Department of Veterans Affairs, which has for years failed on its own to turn the tide of veteran suicides." And: "...since nearly 64 percent of vets who die by suicide are not connected to veterans department medical care." I am a Vietnam-era Navy veteran. Two brothers and my best friend, also Vietnam-era vets, all have horror stories of dealing with the VA. One brother had to produce a diary of his combat tour in Vietnam as the VA could not verify his combat assignment. The VA then lost the medical records which he had provided. The other brother was exposed to Agent Orange and has continuing cancer treatments. The VA has classified him 100% disabled. Yet he continually fights with the VA for the treatments recommend by his VA doctor. I have several service-related medical issues. In January I decided to apply for VA benefits. The process had been a Kafkaesque to put it mildly; a slog of incompetence, prevarication and outright sabotage to delay my application by VA staff. When my VA service officer advised me to do something illegal to get treatment, I asked Sematpr Tom Udall to intervene. So far (30 days), the VA response to the senator has been erroneous and conflicts with its own records. My VA experience is not atypical. This may be incendiary, so be it: The bureaucratic incompetence of the VA when vets apply for benefits is most certainly a contributing factor to the high the suicide among vets.

Is taking away their guns part of the program? Any data on that?

Here's a thought. The best way to prevent veteran suicides is by NOT sending them to be traumatized in pointless wars protecting corporate interests in the first place. Crazy idea?

How can you prevent suicide by veterans when you don't really know why they have done the deed? In other wars, just as ridiculous as the current and recent ones, I think suicides were fall less numerous. So why? I don't know. Is it something in society apart from military service. We have had worse wars and wars with more deaths and fewer suicides among veterans. I suspect it has the same general cause as the opioid crisis and other civilian crises and has less to do with the military. It has to do with the decadence and disintegration of civilization among our lower orders -- most veterans are in the bottom part of society; they join the military for the money not the glory or the flag.

When close friends are killed or so seriously wounded, the personal affect on one is profound. Especially in the Army and the Marines were closeness is part of the bonding experience in combat..the connection is very strong and enduring. But, the overwhelming question(s) is the why! Why did we endure..why did we have close friends die..why did SGT or CPT loose both of his legs. The question is "was it worth it"..." Was Afghanistan or Iraq worth the nearly 7000 US men and women killed..and thousands wounded. The demons come when these questions come to one's memory and cannot be justified by some political mix of words that mean nothing. But, for those of us who returned un-injured..we owe it to those who did not to make the best of our lives and do the best we can in their memory..... Afghanistan/2003-4;Iraq/2005-6 (and 6 other deployments)

I'm writing a book about Canada's disabled soldiers and young veterans. Is there a suicide epidemic among combat soldiers and young combat veterans? My research indicates that a disproportionately high number of deployed combat veterans are disabled and the suicide rate among that group is very high. Is misdiagnosis and mistreatment a major factor? This is reported in "The Sand Beneath Our Feet" by RCAF Brig Gen (retd) Joe Sharpe 2002 online. "Hundreds of young soldiers were misdiagnosed and discharged as medically unfit for service, they were denied proper medical care and disability pensions." The Canadian statistics aren't as shocking as the U.S. because VA Canada doesn't record veterans' suicides. For more information lookup Gulf War Illness: Challenges Persist by Dr Mary Nettleman 2015 Gulf War Illness: Unifying Hypothesis by Dr Anthony Mawson and Dr Ashley Croft 2018 Neurotoxic CNS damage Note the reference to Organophosphate pesticides and the anti-malaria drug mefloquine. Both reports debunk the PTSD story. There is much more and it is more complicated than that. Over to you. ps The British Library has my research.

First, I’m glad this is getting bipartisan support. The Reps are great on talk and talking points, “Honor our troops,” objections to sport’s players taking a knee to protest, anyone trying to burn a US flag in protest, etc. These positions, which the Reps are routinely stand-on-a-soapbox about, are all pretty superficial, and protected as a part of America’s Founding values of free speech. And they cost little to say. The Reps then turn around on more substantive, long-term, more impactful issues and betray our troops; and they do it again and again. They undercut services for Vets, undermine soldiers being able to get services, physical and mental health alike, always vote yes to wars where our young people go off and die, etc. Trump just gutted a variety of programs and projects that were specifically targeted to help support soldier’s families to build his wall as just one of many many examples, time and time again. While exceptions exist, pound for pound and in general over time, Dems demonstrate FAR more substantive support for our troops than Reps do, profoundly more. What do our soldiers really want? Cheap/easy talk (and only talk) or actual real ongoing support when and where it matters? And to be clear, I’m a progressive who believes that a soldier that has served America risking life and limb shouldn’t have to wait months for an appointment, who believes that supporting, protecting and providing for Vet’s families should ALWAYS be a bipartisan issue.

The US is doing everything possible to reduce the number of deaths occurring in combat - to keep that number as low as possible. We use drones firing missiles, aircraft dropping guided bombs and all kinds of technology to kill 'enemy combatants' remotely. Medical care is fast and saves those who would have died in past wars - even if they lose limbs, sight and brain function. Wars of the 21st century are not shown on the nightly news. They are rarely reported at all and when so are reported under controlled circumstances. There are Americans who don't even know that we are still fighting in Afghanistan. Out of sight, out of mind. And after all, the soldiers dying were volunteers. PTSD rates for recent wars seem to be higher for Afghanistan and Iraq because of the type of war being fought. It is ongoing with no 'safe' places and no clearly identified enemies. It seems that we are giving psychotropic drugs to combatants and veterans - drugs with their own serious side effects (including increased rates of suicide). Access to treatment for PTSD after discharge in itself is an issue. What would the death rate be for Iraq and Afghanistan if we counted the suicides that occur after service there? Perhaps the American public would pay more attention if such numbers were reported nightly.

An excellent article, and program which is notable for its use of an "embedded practitioner" model to address a chronic mental health problem that is resistant to conventional psychotherapeutic interventions because of the stigma attached to seeking mental health treatment through conventional approaches. By the way, the replica weapon Gloribel Ramos is holding in the first photograph is not an M4, it is an M16.

Take a lesson from the underwater divers. The longer you are under high pressure the more dangerous a sudden decompression becomes. To me PTSD is the mental equivalent of "the bends." In the distant past we brought the troops out of combat but kept them together under slowly reducing pressure and then they went home. Today, you're at home today, in the war zone tomorrow and in six months or so, the process is reversed and there is no time for recovery and depressurization. All of the associated problems are the result of trying to cope with the sudden change. Little wonder that many simply want to get back in the field - when you've lived with the constant pressure, the absence is a serious problem. No, it isn't simple, nor is it cheap. But, the next time we gear up we will forget the real cost of launching wars - the cost that doesn't stop when the combat ends.