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re: On Average, A Veteran Commits Suicide Every 65 Minutes
Posted on 2/18/21 at 4:35 pm to bubba102105
Posted on 2/18/21 at 4:35 pm to bubba102105
quote:
We have the greatest military in the world, but we severely lack in care and reacclimating our veterans back into society. We see it for every major war but we never learn.
Our politicians, especially democrats, don't care about any of this.
1
Posted on 2/18/21 at 4:52 pm to VADawg
Not sure most people ever think about the transition from military life to civilian life... it's a radically different lifestyle change.... now imagine going from everyday military life to actual combat to civilian life. Which is often shortly after being wounded and your government no longer has a use for you.
Posted on 2/18/21 at 4:53 pm to dakarx
quote:
Not sure most people ever think about the transition from military life to civilian life... it's a radically different lifestyle change.... now imagine going from everyday military life to actual combat to civilian life
I fortunately never went into combat but the transition into civilian life is a major change.
Posted on 2/18/21 at 5:09 pm to Sao
quote:
20+ per day is an epidemic. Something's wrong. Bad wrong.
There are so many contributing factors it is a near-impossible challenge to solve. The downside to our fraternity is pretty big but so is the upside.
Example: My dad is 80 and a vet. He had some health issues away from home and alone - literally 6+ hours from his house and at least a day of flying from me.
An EMT was checking him out and recommended he go to the hospital to get checked out - the hospital was about 40 miles away (dad was in some small town in Wisconsin). Dad balked because he said "I would have a ride to the hospital but no way to get back to my truck after". The EMT, also a veteran, told gave dad his cell number and said go get checked out when you are discharged call me, I got your back on a ride out here.
That is the upside. The downside is I saw several buddies die over my time in, I have dark times thinking about the lives of men better than me that were cut short. I know I am not doing all they could have. If I dwell on it I can go crazy.
In the end, suicide is a choice to follow the dark dogs down an alley you know doesn't end well or stop yourself, call a friend, drink a beer, do anything to stop that circle.
It is a hard decision, but if someone is determined to suck start a pistol there is nothing that can be done.
Posted on 2/18/21 at 5:11 pm to Sao
I’ve lost two of my soldiers to suicide. They were incredible men; I think of them often.
This post was edited on 2/18/21 at 5:12 pm
Posted on 2/18/21 at 5:31 pm to Sao
A contestant on season two of Alone is a veteran and talked about this a lot on his season. It was very eye opening.
Posted on 2/18/21 at 5:32 pm to Sao
Gubment doesn't want to solve it because in the long run it saves them money.
Posted on 2/18/21 at 6:23 pm to pdubya76
quote:
My dad is part of that number. He was a Vietnam vet and couldn’t deal with what he saw or did over there. He took his life in 2010 at the age of 66. He was in therapy at the VA but couldn’t overcome it. PTSD is real.
Wow man that is sad. I'm sorry for your loss.
Posted on 2/18/21 at 6:52 pm to Mo Jeaux
quote:
I do pro bono work on behalf of veterans (helping them navigate the VA benefit regime). Let's just say that I'm glad I don't have to rely on that agency for my healthcare needs. While the people I've dealt with there have been fine and generally seem to care, they're just overwhelmed.
Do you know anyone that can navigate the agent orange game? My dad should be getting benefits for it due to ischemic heart disease but he gave up on the bullshite.
Posted on 2/18/21 at 8:08 pm to Sao
quote:
if you're an acquaintance of anyone within that stat, what's the major problem?
My husband served 20 years. The VA is understaffed and overwhelmed.
quote:
How, where and why do 'we' keep failing these guys and girls?
The first thing they do is put vets on a shite ton of pills, all with side effects that create even more health problems, which leads to, you guessed it, MORE PILLS! There are not enough providers to see vets for therapy and counseling as often as they need it. The situation gets dire very quickly. Often, vets suffer from addiction which starts in their Dr's office of all places. You can't give narcotics to people who are looking to escape the mental and physical pain of war and expect them to NOT become addicts.
quote:
Does more need to be done the second they come home to acclimate their heart and mind?
Yes! It needs to start in basic training and continue all the way through service and after being discharged. Most military members are deemed "defective", for lack of a better term, if they return from deployment with mental health issues, so many dont say anything. There is a fear of being medically discharged and losing your career, especially if you've served 10+ years and hope to retire. Many carry this stuff around for years and don't unpack it until they get out. We fail them every step of the way.
quote:
Does it start way before that in terms of the process of getting them ready to be a soldier period?
Part of the problem is that most of these guys and gals join out of patriotism and love of country and then go fight in wars that have nothing to do with patriotism or peace keeping. It's kind of a mind frick to be blown up and watch your best friends die and then have no clue what you're even doing there. Try looking yourself in the mirror when you feel like you have harmed innocent people and everything you thought you believed in is turned upside down. Our government owes our military a lot of explanations.
quote:
Something's wrong. Bad wrong.
You can say that again.
Posted on 2/18/21 at 8:16 pm to diat150
quote:
diat150
Start with a call to your dads state senator. They used to be able to help get the ball rolling. Not sure about how it is now. There are also veterans resource groups that help with getting benefits.
Posted on 2/18/21 at 8:19 pm to GhostofLesticleMiles
quote:
VA system itself is a travesty
This is why I don't do the VA.
My wife and immediate family had figured out not to bring it up.
Posted on 2/18/21 at 9:02 pm to salty1
quote:
I’ll say this about the VA, they won’t turn any vet away. This is a double edged sword though. You have a lot of guys using the VA as a primary care clinic. If they get a runny nose, they go to the VA. Personally, I’ve never used the VA for anything that wasn’t service connected. Part of the clog up is the misuse, IMO. Just because someone received a 10% service connected rating due to hearing loss shouldn’t mean the VA should have to treat his finger he broke working in the yard. If that same person needs hearing aids, then then VA should provide them. The waiting room at most VA hospitals is abysmal.
A lot of truth here. Too many vets with non-combat, common issues gum up the process. Many are just trying to get VA disability benefits. Those people should be given TriCare and get treated in the civilian world.
The VA Hospital should focus on those with physical and metal combat related issues.
The majority of people in the military never get close to combat, these people should be treated in the civilian sector (paid for by the VA)
Posted on 2/18/21 at 9:27 pm to Sao
I have severe PTSD, I have learned to over come it though and I’m thankful for that. But soldiers live 365 days or more in a heightened state of alertness, at anytime you can be attacked, bombed, mortared etc. that alone can cause severe mental stress. Then thrown in the combat soldiers who are outside the wire and see what pure evil is it gets worse and trust me these assholes over there are pure evil.
Help starts within, most are to proud to ask for help. But we are trained that when facing an overwhelming force that we radio for support and when the support is in its way we still have to hold position and fight till it gets there. This is how we are trained. Veterans we need to apply that to life. If those demons are overwhelming us we call for support and keep calling until we find someone that says keep fighting hold your position I’m on my way.
As far as the VA Trump was on the right path with veterans choice program. I think that needs to be expanded and basically used like a HMO and those doctors bill the service provided back to the VA.
Help starts within, most are to proud to ask for help. But we are trained that when facing an overwhelming force that we radio for support and when the support is in its way we still have to hold position and fight till it gets there. This is how we are trained. Veterans we need to apply that to life. If those demons are overwhelming us we call for support and keep calling until we find someone that says keep fighting hold your position I’m on my way.
As far as the VA Trump was on the right path with veterans choice program. I think that needs to be expanded and basically used like a HMO and those doctors bill the service provided back to the VA.
Posted on 2/18/21 at 9:35 pm to greenbean
quote:
Those people should be given TriCare and get treated in the civilian world.
Tricare is better than VA care
Posted on 2/18/21 at 11:29 pm to Philzilla2k
quote:
Tricare is better than VA care
Concur, most non combat issues should be treated by civilian providers. The VA should focus on those with combat related (or severe) issues.
The VA is being overrun by veterans trying to get the most compensation possible. This makes it harder for those with PTSD and severe issues to get help. Free up VA resources and put most "disabled" vets on Tricare.
Posted on 2/19/21 at 12:27 am to Sao
quote:
what's the major problem?
It is not a problem so much as a a culture of responsibility. If you look at statistics around the world of cultures who commit murder vs cultures who commit suicides, it really comes down to where people place blame when there is failure.
Those who commit suicide typically have a high propensity to blame themselves when they perceive failure. The military for very good reasons has an ethic that maintains anything you fail to do is your responsibility, even in leadership, you have the man in the dock ideology. If your unit fails in its mission, it was your responsibility.
Combine this with all the factors many of the other posters mentioned, from failing to find work when leaving the military, to spousal betrayal, alcohol and drug addiction, chronic pain as a result of the job, seeing the mission you undertook as banal, the loss of friends and you get the problem.
Posted on 2/19/21 at 12:29 am to Sao
Dreams of Napalm
An old man sits in the alleyway,
A veteran of Vietnam,
They sent him home a casualty,
But he still dreams of napalm,
Captain of the football team,
Some said he was college bound,
But the draft board cut short all his dreams,
Sent his boots to foreign ground,
They were ambushed in the jungle,
When he watched his buddy die,
Then he picked up his machine gun,
And he let the bullets fly,
Yeah they gave him a medal,
For his valiant attack,
But a mine took his legs off,
Before they sent him back,
Well they gave a ticker tape parade,
And he watched it from his chair,
And he tried to live a normal life,
But his mind was still back there,
Yeah the nightmares never seemed to end,
So he pours another glass,
If he’s lucky then he’ll dream again,
Of when he threw a touchdown pass.
Now he shivers,
In the cold,
With his bottle,
Grey and old,
Tattered coat upon his shoulders
But the winter’s getting colder
Yeah an old man sits in the alleyway,
Now his life is at an end,
Just another wasted casualty,
Of a war we couldn’t win,
Yeah the boys they sent away from home,
Those that made it back again,
Tossed aside like trash in the alleyway,
With the wounds that never mend
An old man sits in the alleyway,
A veteran of Vietnam,
They sent him home a casualty,
But he still dreams of napalm,
Captain of the football team,
Some said he was college bound,
But the draft board cut short all his dreams,
Sent his boots to foreign ground,
They were ambushed in the jungle,
When he watched his buddy die,
Then he picked up his machine gun,
And he let the bullets fly,
Yeah they gave him a medal,
For his valiant attack,
But a mine took his legs off,
Before they sent him back,
Well they gave a ticker tape parade,
And he watched it from his chair,
And he tried to live a normal life,
But his mind was still back there,
Yeah the nightmares never seemed to end,
So he pours another glass,
If he’s lucky then he’ll dream again,
Of when he threw a touchdown pass.
Now he shivers,
In the cold,
With his bottle,
Grey and old,
Tattered coat upon his shoulders
But the winter’s getting colder
Yeah an old man sits in the alleyway,
Now his life is at an end,
Just another wasted casualty,
Of a war we couldn’t win,
Yeah the boys they sent away from home,
Those that made it back again,
Tossed aside like trash in the alleyway,
With the wounds that never mend
Posted on 2/19/21 at 12:33 am to Sao
Veterans get a fake appreciation and gratitude. They really do deserve better.
Posted on 2/19/21 at 12:53 am to Sao
quote:
what's the major problem?
If they had the answer the statistics wouldn't be where they are.
Some of the problems:
- Seeking help for mental illness has been seen as a sign of weakness historically in the military.
- Fear of losing promotion
- Fear of losing rights
- Ego (too proud to ask for help)
- Repeat deployments where horrible shite happens and then sent home to pretend like it didn't, or sent right back to more horrible shite.
- Lack of mental health facilities
- Lack of competent mental health professionals
- No support from the public "thank you for your service, Hero etc." are just platitudes, actual support from the public would probably go a long way. Some circles generally hate military people, especially in areas around bases.
There are a lot more problems, poor chain of command, poor policy by service branches, lack luster training on the issue etc.
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