Posted on 01/03/2013 8:46:10 AM PST by Pining_4_TX
Suffering an IED blast on the battlefield is most certainly a traumatic event, especially when accompanied by witnessing the death or injury of other service members or civilians. Untangling the physical from the mental damage is never easy.
But doctors and veterans’ advocates feel that they are running out of time, given the skyrocketing rates of suicide among active-duty soldiers and veterans. According to the most recent statistics, Army and Navy suicides are at a record high: 2012 was the worst year for self-inflicted deaths since the military began tracking them in 2001. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta last summer called the situation an “epidemic” — with approximately 3,000 military suicides on record since 9/11.
The numbers are even worse for veterans — an estimated 18 veterans kill themselves each day, 6,570 a year. That’s comparable, advocates point out, to the approximately 6,600 men and women we’ve lost in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001.
“We’re a decade behind where we should be,” says Rieckhoff. “If I had to say, it is the most urgent issue we face. The suicide problem is out of control.”
IAVA has counselors on staff who work one-on-one with veterans every day. “It’s not only one thing that leads to suicide, it’s a culmination of a couple of things,” says Rieckhoff. “What you’ve got is a generation of veterans who have shouldered the weight of combat through unprecedented long tours, repeated tours, compounded by a bad economic situation and a really bad bureaucratic situation with the VA” when they finally get home. “There’s a lot of issues piling up.”
Add that to TBI, drug and alcohol abuse, and PTSD, and the brew is toxic. “The suicide numbers have been bad for a long time,” says Rieckhoff. “This is not new.”
(Excerpt) Read more at theamericanconservative.com ...
PTSD is a big component, but they need to take a broader look. We want simple answers, and there isn’t going to be a simple answer for this.
I hope not to get bashed here but ...
The military are trained to kill and kill efficiently, they are educated with the tools and weapons. When they come home they are lumped back in with the unemployed citizenry state-side. When stress gets to be unbearable, the average citizen is not well verse in killing, the ex-soldier is.
Reach out to any and all veterans, we owe them, share like you really mean it.
I’ve lost 2 friends so far, I hope someone comes up with a plan to help soon.
Why would you get bashed for posting that? It’s an accurate description, although not all are unemployed or even out of uniform when they take their own life. It’s all about facing your demons and coping. Some can. Some can’t, at least not without help from others.
There’s also the perversion of military, even in regards to the faith that is allowed and the chaplains. LGBT never had to invade, they were welcomed in. Clergy of character have been outed and the soldiers have fewer places to turn for spiritual support, overseas.
Very true. Sadly.
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