We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/11/veteran_suicide.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:34:50 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification [Denizen Commentary - Kat] Tuesday, CBS ran a program regarding the "epidemic" of veteran suicides. I thought the report was strong with numbers, but did little to discuss the problems within the VA mental health system, point to possible solutions or even provide linkage to outside organizations that might be able to help. That last, I thought, would have been extremely helpful and the most important since it is likely that family and friends of soldiers needing help or soldiers themselves were watching the program. From time to time, the issue has come up on military blogs. From time to... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/11/veteran_suicide.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/11/veteran_suicide.html Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:38:16 -0600 Attachment: 2503097.pdf (7343KB) Robert F. Moore 796 Isenberg st. apt 17c Honolulu, Hawaii 96826 s/s 558403267. I just Received from Department of Veterans Affairs Letter 17 pages (in reply, refer to 323/211/bgn File Number: 21 584556 Robert F. Moore) My Story Is 1989 I had A bi lateral Stroke at kaiser Hospital Honolulu, then rehab one of the guys from kaiser had worked with exposures. Told me to go to va and demand exams by for radiation by atomic doctors. I went to Washington in a wheel chair for a hearing of my piers . witch should be recorded. next hearing was a Honolulu VA judge I am still 100% disabled the VA judge give advise to separate from my wife. I soon found out If your not 442 FORGET IT ! Early 90,s I heard of Atomic Vets, I joined. then I had a voice input system Ect. now I Have A msn2 tv web I have 30% use of legs & right hand So I one finger it my total funding Soc. 400 VA Max is 1,ooo my rent is 1,350 I MAY MOVE TO THE PARK .. My 75th Birthday 5th Feb. 1933 joined Army 1948 became Air Force A F 19327971 Stationed Hickam AFB Hawaii till Japan 56 & 57 ITAZUKI AFB FUKUOKA I was in the AFB Hospital NO ANSWERS FOR ME EYES OR WHY I DROPPED A TESTICULAR. BEING ON PERMANENT INLIST MENT I RESIGNED FOR MEDICAL REASONS.. 1948 TO 1957 NOT BEING ABLE TO WRITE I HAVE TOLD MY STORY TO THE VA 1000 TIMES TILL THEY THRU ME OUT THEY STILL WILL NOT SAY ANY THING ABOUT ATOMIC VETERANS REFUSED MY APPLICATION.. They sent me to MR CASTRO VFW IN TRIPLER VA CLINIC A NICE DO NOTHING GUY HE LET ALL MY WORK EXPIRE... He has been given all information I can not handle paper WORK.. I think I am now starting to to loose my mind... PLEASE FORWARD THIS LETTER TO ANY ONE ONE. ROBERT MOORE MOST ATOMIC VETERANS WHO WERE BEFORE ME ARE NOW GONE MAY THEY NEVER BE FORGOTTEN... I READ EVERY STORY.. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/11/veteran_suicide.html#comment-66764 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/11/veteran_suicide.html#comment-66764 Sun, 18 Nov 2007 16:08:14 -0600 Suicide, I have been down that dark road, far too many have. Several issues come to mind here; a) Isolation will really ramp it up. How can we minimise friends and family disconnect due to deployment esp after homecoming? Valour-IT just a laptop with some proggies thrown on it in a real sense. But it's what it *does* not what it is. It's a communication enabler and can greatly help isolation problems. Is it possible to reduce isolation from their buddies in the military? b) Do something about it early. Which means several hard parts. Namely realising there is a problem and then facing the problem. Soldiers and their families need to know the signs they aren't too hard as long as you are aware. Another time problem is knowing where to get the info the help etc and how it all works. In my case this was significant. Soldiers with their formalised connections should be able to fix this. c)It is seen as a weakness. Army Strong surely includes facing your problems. Mental health, suicide or 'not coping' is too stigmatised and in a society that is more group knit. The stigma has to die before more Soldiers do. d) Have to keep working on minimising the trauma itself which is usually where the whole path starts. That isn't easy in a job where risk and trauma is what you live in. e) Support really matters. At the end of the day you want to feel that someone really does give a s**t. For the military the weak support back home is feeding the problem IMO. f) Psychology stigma is also a problem. And the pills if needed. And someone has to cough up for it all too. Oh boy. g) There is a balance of stresses. A little bit is good drives you forward. Piling it up is not good at all. Some I think are coming home to lots of sources. Physical damage, problem with spouse family or kids, facing another deployment, financial problems etc etc. Perhaps something can be done to reduce the pile on? Just some thoughts. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/11/veteran_suicide.html#comment-66685 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/11/veteran_suicide.html#comment-66685 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:54:00 -0600 Damien, I have several family members who suffered from PTSD. One was my father who is are retired law enforcement officer. We have dealt with it for almost 12 years. We have often discussed that, if we had been aware of what PTSD was and how to get help, we might have sought help sooner and mitigated the chronic nature of the disorder he still suffers today. Back then, it was still stigmatized and even a mild hint at it could end a career. Suicides among police officers were very high. Since then, it has been something I've watched regarding our veterans and their treatment. That's one of the reasons that I support Project Valour IT and helped Fuzzy put together some info on the how it may be able to assist in mitigating the trauma of separation that often increases the chances of PTSD in already traumatized, wounded patients. It's important that we handle it now. Early detection and treatment means earlier recession and ultimate healing. It doesn't have to be a life long condition. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/11/veteran_suicide.html#comment-66658 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/11/veteran_suicide.html#comment-66658 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:44:48 -0600 Great post, Kat. I lost both a family member and a classmate in the service to suicide, so the issue is a very personal one for me. This is a tough job we ask our soldiers to do, and the emotional demands are unlike most other types of work stress. We need to make sure they're as prepared as they can be for the psychological toll the work will inflict upon them, and then throw every resource available at the inevitable problems as they occur. Not only does it make strict bean-counter managerial sense to keep your people mentally healthy, but there's a moral obligation as well. Thanks for writing this. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/11/veteran_suicide.html#comment-66653 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/11/veteran_suicide.html#comment-66653 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:17:16 -0600