Suicide Rate Among Veterans

On CBS News http://vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfNOV07/nf111507-10.htm it has been reported that as many as 120 veterans per week are committing suicide and that this is just counting the veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. This causes me to wonder about several things. For example, why is it that the rate of suicides is greater among these veterans, than among Vietnam veterans or other war era veterans? This raises the question, is it greater or is it that we just did not hear of the suicide rate among other war era veterans like we are today? Another question is, if the suicide rate is, in fact, greater among this particular group of veterans, why?

We have seen various comparisons between the current war and the war in Vietnam, as well as other wars, one being the amount of time a soldier spends in actual combat during a tour of duty. It is stated that today's soldiers spend almost every minute of every day in fear of their lives as there are enemy every where who could strike at any time. The same was true of Vietnam, but not true of WWII where there were front lines and safe areas. Another thing mentioned often is the enemies use of IEDs and how devastating those devices are and they fear they cause among our troops. The same could be said of Vietnam and the use of booby traps, which are nothing more than, in many cases, IEDs, although other devices such as pungy stakes were also utilized by the Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong.

Another comparison is the fact that in today's war no one really knows just who the enemy is, just like in Vietnam. So I think it safe to say that today's warriors are facing pretty much the same type of combat situation as did those warriors of the Vietnam War. So is it the "fear factor' that is the cause of so many suicides among today's warriors as compared to other war era veterans? I think not. Fear created by war is pretty much the same I think in that every warrior no matter what war he/she may fight in are afraid of dying or having a brother or sister warrior killed by the enemy. Fear is fear and the results are the same overall when dealing with the mental damage caused by it.

So what is it that is causing such a rise in suicides, if there really is a rise? I don't think there is a rise, Per Se, in the suicide rate among veterans, I think that today we are just paying more attention to the fact that veterans are committing suicide. I think the rate is comparable in all war periods and the result of war. I think that there was, for example, a rise in veteran suicide after Vietnam just as notable as it is as a result of today's War On Terror. I feel that if a study were conducted on the rate of veteran suicides after Vietnam as compared to the suicide rate today we would see marked similarities in the overall rate per number of actual combat veterans.

So what is it then that is the cause of so many suicides among our veteran population? One of the base symptoms one is told to pay attention to when looking for signs of suicide in an individual is feelings of hopelessness. This is, also, a noted symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Is there a correlation here, I believe there is, and a big one.

As noted in the news regarding the suicide rate one must take note of the statements of Dr. Kantz regarding the stance of the Veterans Administration (VA). They have conducted no studies on this issue and Dr. Kantz states that there is no epidemic in the veterans community that is different from the epidemic nation wide among all groups or classes of people. In other words veterans are no more likely to commit suicide than is Joe Blow down the street or living next door. Of course, one must take into account that if the VA were to state that there was a suicide problem among veterans then they, the VA, would be compelled to take so form of preventive action, which they say they have. Well, if there is no problem one must ask why has the VA taken any preventive actions at all? We all know in our hearts that the VA knows there is a problem, a major problem, they just don't want to state so publicly for to do so would force them, due to public opinion and outrage, to take immediate action. So, as usual for the VA, they are talking the talk but not walking the walk.

Now, here, I feel, is one of the major reasons for today's suicide rate, and this goes back to that symptom called "hopelessness." Today's veterans are looking at the track record of the VA and seeing just how they (VA) have treated, or not treated, the Vietnam veterans. They can readily see that most Vietnam veterans have had to fight for years on end to gain any sort of recognition of their PTSD problems and even longer to receive treatment and compensation for same. This, in my opinion, creates a notable feeling of "hopelessness" in today's veterans. This "hopelessness" can be overwhelming, numbing and lead, I believe, to the veteran's totally giving up, the result of which can, and often is, as noted by the numbers, suicide. The VA's stance on this issue, and other issues related to treatment, and compensation for veterans, is, in my opinion, contributing to the rise in suicide among today's combat veterans. I believe that same apathetic stance has contributed to suicides, in the past and today, of Vietnam veterans and other veterans broken down by war eras.

The government stance is basically the same for it is the Congress who must allocate the monies to allow the VA to act so when they fail to pass an adequate budget for the operation of the VA they also contribute to this feeling of hopelessness among veterans, thus, contribute to the rise in suicides across the board.

Bottom line is that the government, it's agencies, and all those responsible for the care of our veterans need to stop talking the talk and begin to walk the walk. All those who seek public office need to take note that the veteran voting block is growing with each day. When election time comes I urge each person to look at the stance of each candidate regarding veteran issues and vote only for those who have shown, by their actions not mere words, that they support this nation's veterans and active military. This scrutiny needs to begin at the very bottom and go all the way to the White House. Even the least of politicians must be looked at for the political latter begins at the bottom rung. Pay attention to the least among the politicians for some day they may be on that top rung. Let's make sure that they don't get to the top on the backs of our veterans.