22 vets commit suicide every day

[skyblue1]

22 vets commit suicide every day


An estimated 22 veterans commit suicide in the United States every day, a slightly higher number than the 18-per-day rate the Department of Veterans Affairs had indicated in years past, according to a VA study made public today.

"We have more work to do," VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said in a statement released Friday. "We will use this data to continue to strengthen our suicide prevention efforts and ensure all veterans receive the care they have earned and deserve."

The chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee called the pace of veterans suicides unacceptable. "What we're seeing is an extraordinary tragedy which speaks to the horror of war and the need for us to do a much better job of assisting our soldiers and their families after they return home," says Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), chairman of the House VA Committee, said he is holding a hearing Feb. 13 to find out "if the VA's complex system of mental health and suicide prevention services (is) improving the health and wellness of our heroes in need."

Researchers found that the average age of a veteran who commits suicide is about 60. Analysts concluded that Vietnam and female veterans need particular focus.They also determined that a very intense period of risk for suicide is the first four weeks after someone leaves the military, and that this period requires strong monitoring and case management.

The analysis found that the actual number of estimated suicides per day among veterans has remained relatively stable, ranging from 20 per day in 2000 to 18 per day in 2007 and 22 per day in 2009 and 2010, the latest estimates available, according to a report on the study released Friday. The rate of suicide among veterans who use VA health care services has remained steady in recent years, at about 36 per 100,000.

The most common means of committing suicide by veterans — in half of the deaths — is drug overdose or poisoning, according to the VA study.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/natio...e/1883329/


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[Queen Victoria]

This is something that needs to be looked at carefully.  I'm not sure what the ratio of suicides/veterans and suicides/non-veterans is, so I'm not sure if and how much this may be skewed.

They mentioned the age of 60.  That is a difficult age in these times.  The focus is on youth, energy, sex appeal, etc.  Aging can be difficult, health can deteriorate, spouses leave, etc.  How many of the suicides is due to military causes and how many due to ordinary, every day causes.  You can't ask a dead person why they committed suicide.  You have to rely on a suicide note or the say so of the survivirs. 

Any suicide is a loss to the family, friends and to society.  It needs to be looked at carefully.

[earthboundmisfit]

I was only in four years and didn't see any direct combat, and I had a hell of a time transitioning back into civilian life. I can imagine how difficult it is for the people who have seen war.

[Al Swearegen]

Poor bastards.

[Parts]

I know my niece and her husband have a hard time with a lot of things to the point her husband is on partial disability.  They were both medics and were in Iraq from the start of the war for a little over three years in many of the areas of the heaviest fighting.  I don't know her husband very well but I know she was very different when she got back

[Pyraxis]

What is partial disability?

[Parts]

What is partial disability?

Not full   He can work  and does  but gets a certain amount based on how bad his problems are to help deal with the associated costs like missed work and not being able to work to his full potential.

[skyblue1]

What is partial disability?

Partial disability is defined as an injury or illness, which prevents you from either performing all of the substantial
and material duties of your position, or prevents you from working at least 80% of your normal work schedule,
even if you can perform all of your duties

[earthboundmisfit]

What is partial disability?

VA disability is a percentage, ten percent to one hundred percent based on the severity of the injuries.

[Pyraxis]

That makes so much logical sense and makes me wonder why civilian disability services don't work the same way.

[odeon]

It makes a lot of sense.

Speaking of disabilities, I was reading about a person who was born without legs. The state has provided her with a motorised wheelchair thingy until now, but want to take it away because "she isn't using it enough". Apparently she uses it for about 13 hours last year while the state thinks 20 or more is more reasonable.

WTF is wrong with this country? 

[Parts]

It makes a lot of sense.

Speaking of disabilities, I was reading about a person who was born without legs. The state has provided her with a motorised wheelchair thingy until now, but want to take it away because "she isn't using it enough". Apparently she uses it for about 13 hours last year while the state thinks 20 or more is more reasonable.

WTF is wrong with this country? 

13 hours in a year she does barely use it but they think 20 hours is more reasonable   Just think they pay people to keep track of this shit

[TA]

Isn't the forever war over oil wonderful?

[RageBeoulve]

Isn't the forever war over oil wonderful?

Well its almost over man. We reached peak oil 40 years ago. Oil can't last much more than a couple more decades, probably less.

[Parts]

Isn't the forever war over oil wonderful?

Well its almost over man. We reached peak oil 40 years ago. Oil can't last much more than a couple more decades, probably less.

My mom remembers them saying we will run out of oil back in the 1950s, I remember them saying it in the 70s,80's,90s and 00's and they always said it was just about to happen