The Problem Of Veteran Suicide - 855 Words

There is a common belief that many combat veterans are suffering; many from invisible wounds that affect them in many ways. The challenge that the VA and other government agencies face is determining which veterans need help, there are several factors that affect this, from the individual’s desire to accept help, to the stigma that most veterans have accepted, which is â€Å"if they ask for help, they are weak.† During separation from the military it is a critical time for all soldiers, this time provides an opportunity for the military, the VA and our government to intercede and work with men and women while they are still soldiers. Veteran suicide is an epidemic, the number of veterans taking their life daily has been steadily growing, the statistic published by the VA is that twenty-two veterans end their lives every day (Suicide Data Report, 2012); steps have been taken to curb this number but the efforts have been woefully inadequate. Soldiers have long categori zed themselves as â€Å"different† than their civilian counterparts. This is accepted as fact by soldiers, due to the fact that it is instilled into them from the first day of basic training. Warrior culture dictates that they are tougher mentally and physically, and they need to stay that way in order to protect the masses. That mentality is vital to the duty they serve, soldiers find comfort in knowing they are willing to do what others won’t; the part of this that should change is that they can perform theirShow MoreRelatedFree Counseling For Freedom : The United States Department Of Veterans932 Words   |  4 PagesFree counseling for freedom In March 2010, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released a sobering statistic: every eighty minutes, a military veteran commits suicide† (Mccarl and Lindsay 395). As one can see, this is a major problem in our society. Most of these suicides are from veterans with mental disorders, such as PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder). Disorders such as this cause suicide, and are not always caught by professionals and/or families, and can even affectRead MoreThe Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention For American Veterans Act Essay1523 Words   |  7 PagesOn February 12, 2015, President Barack Obama signed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act (Clay Hunt Act) that will work towards expanding and allowing for greater efficiency and coherence within The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mental health services and suicide prevention programs. The Clay Hunt Act includes peer support and community outreach pilot programs, requirement of 3rd party evalua tions, collaboration with non-profit mental health organizations, creation ofRead MoreMost Common Means Of Suicide Among Military Veterans1469 Words   |  6 PagesActive Duty Service Members. Traditionally, the U.S. military has faced lower suicide rates compared to their civilian counterparts. However, the suicide rate among active duty military personnel has increased in the last decade, almost doubling in the Army and Marine Corps. Unlike the low active duty suicide rates of Vietnam, OEF/OIF active duty suicide rates are at near record highs (McCarl, 2013). Once again, it is believed that multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan is one of the culpritsRead MoreThe Effects Of Reintegration As A Factor Influencing Suicide Rates Among Veterans1035 Words   |  5 PagesINTRODUCTION (WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?) Returning home after periods of service on active duty, in any capacity, is something for veterans to look forward to, and so many veterans do well after service, but a large number seem to face service-related challenges, as do not receive the care and services required for successful transition to civilian life. [1][6] The stress that comes with attempting to reintegrate into civilian society is only one of many that contributes to suicidal ideation, soRead MoreThe Legacy Of Veteran Suicide1189 Words   |  5 PagesVeteran Suicide Twenty-two United States Veterans commit suicide every day, giving approximately one thousand seven hundred and eighty Veterans deaths due to suicide for the year of 2016 to date (â€Å"Operation Never Forgotten†). Veteran suicide is an ongoing problem because veterans enter the civilian world directly after receiving discharge from the armed forces and struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and acute stress, and anxiety (â€Å"Veterans Services†). Veteran suicidesRead MoreThe God Factor : Exploring The Roles1678 Words   |  7 Pages(Spiritual) Services Within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), chaplains play many different roles. Chaplains are not only counselors who contend with the spiritual and religious needs of veterans and their families, they also aid with the emotional, mental, physical, and relational needs of veterans. Recognizing the aid and guidance chaplains give veterans is important in realizing the special utility they serve. In realizing the benefit to veterans and their families, the VA is integratingRead MoreHow Should Veteran Suicide Be Prevented?1300 Words   |  6 Pages6 How should veteran suicidal be prevented? A Problem and Solution Essay: How Should Veteran Suicide be prevented? Durham Technical Community College This is like a bomb waiting to go off: Family of veterans have to live with fear, hoping that their love one would recuperate, be happy, or simply a civilian again. The Veterans Affairs Department (VA) should put a better effort to better assist veterans, and their family with a better plan to reduce this preventable death. Many veteransRead MoreEssay On Military Veterans1027 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"disproportionate rate of suicide in the veteran population may be due to various risk factors†, including symptoms of PTSD and depression (p.100). Their study population was comprised of 545 military veterans who completed a Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire indicating a link between higher PTSD related suicide and depression (p. 100). McKinney et al. (2017) found that â€Å"Depression, as well as other disorders, often serves as a mediator of the relation between PTSD and suicide risk† (p.101).    The implicationsRead MoreVeterans Deserve a Second Chance Back Home in the USA1467 Words   |  6 Pagescracked up to be. When Veterans come back home, all they want is a second chance at life again. They want to come back and be able to start from where they left off. But the government has done very little to help these veterans. The government believes they have done enough with the programs they have created, but it hasn’t had much of a change. The purpose of this essay is to discuss my opinion and what I know about this issue, to benefit The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, who are my intendedRead MoreI Am Writing About The Bill s Mental Health Care Access Act1248 Words   |  5 Pagesin your district 7. I am writing to support your bill H.R. 1604, Veteran’s Mental Health Care access Act, which you cosponsor. The bill calls for veterans to be eligible for mental health care at non Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities, regardless of when they enrolled in the VA he alth care system or seek care at a VA facility, or the location of the veteran s residence. Mental illness is very common among men and women who serve in our military. According to American Psychiatric Association (2015)