18 veterans commit suicide each day

[unhappycamper]

18 veterans commit suicide each day
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Apr 22, 2010 15:40:18 EDT

Troubling new data show there are an average of 950 suicide attempts each month by veterans who are receiving some type of treatment from the Veterans Affairs Department.

Seven percent of the attempts are successful, and 11 percent of those who don’t succeed on the first attempt try again within nine months.

The numbers, which come at a time when VA is strengthening its suicide prevention programs, show about 18 veteran suicides a day, about five by veterans who are receiving VA care.

Access to care appears to be a key factor, officials said, noting that once a veteran is inside the VA care program, screening programs are in place to identify those with problems, and special efforts are made to track those considered at high risk, such as monitoring whether they are keeping appointments.

A key part of the new data shows the suicide rate is lower for veterans aged 18 to 29 who are using VA health care services than those who are not. That leads VA officials to believe that about 250 lives have been saved each year as a result of VA treatment.

[stray cat]

1. 94 men and four women dying in the year 2009; how does that equal 18 per day

the numbers in the article don't seem to match each other

[KharmaTrain]

2. The Worst Is Yet To Come...

A few years ago I finally got a chance to see the Vietnam Memorial on the National Mall and spent a long time chatting with the many veterans who have set up memorabilia stands near the site. Not that I needed a reminder but most related about how they were still fighting that ugly war and how they've never been able to overcome their experiences. For too many, the answer was found in the bottom of a bottle or a needle...the pain and personal war can be controlled but not ignored. For too many, that war was one war too many leading many to take their lives...either directly or through years of abuse to their own bodies.

Vietnam was awful but one would imagine the experience for those in Iraq was far worse. This was an ugly war that got up close and personal...fought in cities not jungles where death lurked on any and every corner. There are many who encountered this snakepit and had to return several times...and the war inside rages. While the VA now recognizes PTSD it's still downplayed except for the most severe cases...sadly the ticking time bombs slip under the radar.

Problems are now compounded as those returning to "civilian" life face the worst entry level economy in a century with no real turn around in sight. This desperation only adds fuel to the ticking time bomb...and more names added to the bloodlust of the previous regime.

[Mari333]

3. but war criminals have speaking engagements and sit in luxury with no investigation

knr

[era veteran]

4. Regardless it's too many, "The Army (military) uses you and throws you away"

What bullshit VA spin: "A key part of the new data shows the suicide rate is lower for veterans aged 18 to 29 who are using VA health care services than those who are not. That leads VA officials to believe that about 250 lives have been saved each year as a result of VA treatment" Go look under any bridge in any city and help those guys. In my experience the VA's treatment system is set up to make you wait for an eternity until you leave. The chicken hawks who start these wars either don't think or don't care enough to fund the total cost of war making. I know vet suicide, I saw it happen to a friend. They talk care but act cheap. Go to any VA and try and find their main administration offices. They hide them, and for damn good reasons. Fuck the VA

[SidDithers]

5. Is that higher than the national average for suicides?...

NIH claims 33,000 suicides per year in the US - or just over 90 per day (which is an abomination in itself)
which is a rate of 10.9 deaths / 100,000 people
source: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-in-the-us-statistics-and-prevention/index.shtml

Census claims 23.2 million veterans living in the US
source: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/

18 suicide deaths of veterans daily is 6570 deaths annually
which is 28.3 suicide deaths / 100,000 veterans, almost triple the national average.

Answering my own question here, but I'm often leery of raw numbers without context.

Thanks for posting.

Sid

[w8liftinglady]

11. twice the national average

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2007/male-veterans-have-double-the-suicide-rate-of-civilians.shtml

[SidDithers]

16. Thanks for that...

I was in the ballpark, anyway :hi:

Sid

[sharesunited]

6. What means are being used? How many are by guns?

[old mark]

7. Dead is dead - guns do not kill you any more dead than any other means,

and are messier and less reliable than some other methods.

I knew many Vietnam era vets who drank themselves to an early death, and no one even bothered to record the ending of their terrible, sad lives as suicide.


m

[era veteran]

20. You are so right, alcohol killed more than bullets.

[sharesunited]

8. Guns are more impulsive and more effective than many other means.

And ex-military are more gun friendly, to their great misfortune.

[The River]

13. What Kind of

morbid freak are you?

[old mark]

21. Many of my peers of the Vietnam era are still unable to function in the world,

drag themselves through life using alcohol and drugs, living on the charity of others if they are lucky, on the street if they are not.
Please do not trivialize their decades of suffering and sacrifice by making this some sort of anti-gun nonsense.
I have known too many people who died of alcoholism, cancers, insanity and neglect after they gave their youth and well being to this country, whether the cause was valid or not...it eventually took all they had and gave them nothing.

Please do not use them any more for your own purposes.
They have been misused enough.

m

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

9. Comparing rates for VA patients vs others

It would be interesting to compare the rates for those using VA health care, vs those using some other health care, vs those who have no health care.

The VA officials seem to be patting themselves on the back, but I'm not sure their service is any more useful than non-VA health care (insurance).

If they really are successful, then good for them.

[The River]

17. Non VA Care

is useless. Civilian doctors have no idea what to look for.
I went 40 years with severe PTSD and not one single private Dr. had a clue.
On my first visit with a VA doctor last summer she caught it in 10 minutes.

I'm lucky. I am seeing the #1 rated therapist in the country and my new best
friend is a fellow vet who was her protege. When I know enough to help
others I'll do what I can for this next generation of wounded warriors.

The only way to stop the madness is to stop the #*%^*# wars!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

19. You mean "Peace" is the answer?

Peace is not on the table.

I would have thought that civilian doctors would have some training in PTSD detection. I think most doctors continue to take classes during their career. Maybe they just study how to improve their golf swing.

Congratulations on (finally) getting good help.

[w8liftinglady]

10. my latest ltte dedicated to this-forgive the local references

As the wars In Iraq and Afghanistan linger on, a disturbing trend continues and is escalating. The Department of Veterans Affairs has released data that indicates that 950 veterans attempt suicide every month, with 7% being successful. Those with family members who are veterans of war may find their loved one is unwilling or unable to discuss the issues that are eating at them. There ARE resources for veterans that you can steer them towards.
The Veterans Administration is finally recognizing the effect war has on the troops, and now offers many resources. The number for the VA’s 24-hour suicide hotline is 1-800-273-8255.The following website has an online live chat with a VA counselor, as well as emergency resources for homeless and suicidal veterans:
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/Veterans/Default.aspx
The local VA advocate is Annie Joseph at the VAMC in Dallas. Her number is 214-857-0706.

Many veterans have given up hope in the VA system due to prior bad experiences. There are many non-governmental resources where they can network with fellow veterans. The Suicide and Crisis Center of Dallas has a 24 hour hotline at 214.828.1000 or 866.672.5100.Vets4Vets is a support group by vets for vets. The area contact is Lee Cothren at (469)-426-7152.Two excellent online resources are http://ptsdcombat.blogspot.com/#about and http://www.vawatchdog.org/

As a member of The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans and Veterans for Peace, I am committed to seeing that veterans and their families receive the help they deserve. As a final resource, you may contact me at [email protected] for further resources and help. As a grateful nation, we need to continue to recognize that troops past and present have earned our respect and deserve our support.

[The River]

18. Thank You

for everything you do.

[Blue Owl]

12. just unacceptable

if this isn't a dire indication that something is wrong with the way we use and abuse our military -- than what is?

[Radical Activist]

14. This is the cost of war.

It's a shame that we never talk about these kind of things during the build-up to war. It happens in every war, no matter what the cause.

[TexasObserver]

15. recommend

[babylonsister]

22. That's a horrific statistic. VA needs to step it up. nt

[Old Troop]

23. Are they talking about all veterans or recent combat veterans?

[unhappycamper]

25. All veterans.

This is the same shit after every war. We saw it after WW II, Vietnam and GW II - the difference this time is the internets let/make this kind of info 'leak' out.

[Wilms]

24. .