Are there enough resources to effectively treat PTSD and deal with Veteran Suicide?

2015-09-25T16:20:37-04:00

I'm sure most of us know that 22 Veterans commit suicide every day. However, I was wondering if there are actually enough resources or if Veterans are aware of the resources that are available that can help them? Are there any groups that genuinely support hurting Vets and their families? Do we have enough awareness for those of us whom seem to think death is the only option? We as Veterans and others who have been discharge are aware of the issue, but are those outside of the Military also aware?

I edited it because of a few typos.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 25 at 2015 4:24 PM

2015-09-25T16:24:24-04:00

I doubt that there would be enough resources to effectively treat current and future PTSD cases effectively let alone prevent all the Veterans suicide attempts because there are so many contributing factors SN Alex Tufail

Response by SMSgt Tony Barnes made Sep 25 at 2015 4:27 PM

2015-09-25T16:27:17-04:00

There are a lot of resources...and the real issue is getting veterans plugged in. I work for the Army Wounded Warrior program and we provide assistance to Army veterans and their families as long as they have combat related injuries that meet the criteria.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 6:16 PM

2015-09-25T18:16:51-04:00

SN Alex Tufail I was looking for some help for someone and posted the following link, I received offers of help from members and many ideas and support sources. Maybe this will be of help to you.
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-can-i-get-intervention-for-former-military-member-without-involving-local-law-enforcement

How can I get intervention for former military member without involving local law enforcement? |...

I'm worried about a former military member who is becoming withdrawn. Is it possible to have some kind of intervention without involving local law enforcement? Something like a health and welfare check. Does anyone know which social services might become involved?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 6:21 PM

2015-09-25T18:21:14-04:00

Here is another thread I started, maybe there's something here that will help you.
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-can-we-get-to-ptsd-soldiers-ahead-of-time

How can we get to PTSD soldiers ahead of time? | RallyPoint

Soldier with PTSD after three tours shoots fiance and then himself. How can we get to soldiers before this type of tragedy? How do we identify them if they are not requesting help for themselves?http://www.aol.com/article/2015/07/30/pregnant-woman-shot-to-death-in-murder-suicide-unborn-baby-surv/21216015/

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 6:26 PM

2015-09-25T18:26:32-04:00

SN Alex Tufail And here is another one. The replies in these threads are too numerous for me to list for you, but you can look at them and see if there is something useful you can use. I did find help through the suggestions of RP members for this Soldier.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/anyone-know-of-resources-for-an-18b4-separated-from-the-military-who-needs-a-support-group

Anyone know of resources for an 18B4 separated from the military who needs a support group? |...

His family has contacted me asking for information. I was told he has been unable to get the help he needs from the VA. They shared stories with me about his actions here, it sounds like he came home physically but not mentally.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Sep 25 at 2015 7:27 PM

2015-09-25T19:27:37-04:00

How much would be enough? Even if there were that and more, would tragedy be prevented or are those who suffer blind to the help that is available? Sadly, the best way to deal with a problem is to avoid a problem, but some are simply unavoidable, and the consequences are almost a certainty regardless of what we do. Help when you can and never condemn those who fail to reach out for help. It simply is what it is...

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Sep 27 at 2015 10:47 AM

2015-09-27T10:47:36-04:00

SN Alex Tufail I'm not working on a volunteer basis with a program that is going to provide additonal services for veterans with PTSD, TBI, and disabilities, along with a multitude of other services (Action4Vets, Kids4Horses&Dogs4Vets, Sponsor a Vet Life, etc.). The organization is called Virtual World Solutions d/b/a Sponsor a Vet Life. Here is osme additonal information on the services that they will provide for veterans with PTSD:

Sponsor A Vet Life (SAVL), is on a Mission to roll out a proven solution for many of the challenges Active Duty, Disabled Veterans, Veterans and their families experience.

Sponsor A Vet Life Mission is to provide full collaboration Communities utilizing virtual reality tools to help stop the 22 Veteran PTSD suicides per day. All communications occur in a 3D interactive, immersive virtual environment. We've successfully used these tools in the past to save lives and will continue to save more veterans with your help.

SAVL collaborates with seasoned professionals in various fields that fill the void in today's veteran services. We have over 100 Senior Business Management Consultants, all with over 20 years experience that have joined our team as mentors to help guide transitioning veterans through opportunities and solutions. There is no fee for the veteran to receive services. Sponsorship monthly license fees are paid by corporations with veteran hiring initiatives, individuals, and donations from our equine/canine nonprofit therapy training groups.

Example of Benefits:
- Telehealth Therapists - every state, PTSD experience
preferred, Veterans choose the therapist they feel the most
comfortable working with, not the other way around.
- Veteran nonprofits - SAVL helps increase their funding
- Workshop Providers - All related areas
- Virtual assistants - semi or retired individuals for computer and
"in-world" tech work
- eLearning trainers working in a virtual world
- Corporate sponsors with veteran hiring initiatives to be cloned
in-world
- Holistic treatments - therapists, meditation, yoga
- Recruitment firms located in our virtual world conduct interviews
as 3D persona veteran avatars simultaneously using a
webcam
- Vets4Vets Mentors
- Treatment Centers
- Sponsorship programs - training funds
- Virtual Life Coach
- Therapy dogs and horses that were rescued from abandonment
or abuse

SAVL has urgent concerns regarding if previously diagnosed disabled veterans know they have PTSD and are aware how this condition can negatively impact their lives. We have even greater concerns identifying how many physically disabled veterans are included in the 22 veteran PTSD suicides per day.

SAVL collaborates with a Foundation (Global PTSI Foundation), that provides a biomedical treatment, tested with 2,000 veterans with PTSD over the past 6 years with 73% success, no after effect and immediate relief within 1 hour. VA will offer their treatment within a few months.

If this medical treatment is offered to disabled veterans who are not aware they have PTSD, (which we feel strongly most will as trauma is associated with disability), were given the opportunity to receive the treatment AND receive remote job training, Community 24/7 support and feel like they are living a "normal" social life in an immersive, interactive environment, we feel confident not only their quality of life would improve, but it would have a direct impact on decreasing veteran suicides.

Our main focus is to provide proven job training in a supportive virtual world Community by our Senior Business Management Consultants team, each possessing decades of experience in every industry imaginable. The training is accomplished remotely in the veteran's own comfortable home environment and will provide the confidence and business skills to work remotely for a Corporate Sponsor or we will train the veteran how to start their own business online. We also provide project work for veterans with PTSD to earn additional income while training if the veteran possess basic project skills requirements. For those that do not have the basic skills, we train. We have over 5 years successful experience with a similar process.

Severely injured veterans are able to navigate in our virtual platform with assistive technology. Completely paralyzed veterans are able to receive training for employment positions, eTherapy, mentoring, Community support 24/7 and Socializing, which for many is the first form of "normal" interactive socializing experienced in groups.

Severely injured veterans feel the feelings of walking, running, dancing, driving a car, mountain climbing, swimming, playing sports, social activities and can enjoy all the advantages with former brother and sisters in arms, family and friends. Brothers and Sisters in Arms stay connected.

SAVL collaborates with veteran nonprofits to help increase donations by cloning services to be accessed virtually, in-world.

Let us work together to help many disabled veterans that are almost totally isolated and have a very limited life.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Sep 27 at 2015 10:54 AM

2015-09-27T10:54:42-04:00

SN Alex Tufail Here is a Discussion that I posted on behalf of Sponsor a Vet Life (SALV):

http://www.rallypoint.com/answers/would-you-join-a-pilot-program-in-3d-interactive-mode-need-active-duty-families-veterans-w-ptsd-and-military-spouses

Would you join a Pilot Program in 3D interactive mode? Need Active Duty Families, Veterans...

UPDATE: [~759758:Ilene Morris] the founder of Virtual Worlds is now a Civilian Supporter on RP. You can connect with her directly and get more information on this great Pilot Program through the message portal.FOLLOW OUR GROUP PAGE: https://www.rallypoint.com/organizations/sponsor-a-vet-life-virtual-world-solutions-d-b-a-sponsor-a-vet-lifePLEASE BE ADVISED THAT [~759758:Ilene Morris] HAS RECEIVED A LOT OF FEEDBACK AND REQUESTS - SHE IS RUNNING...

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 27 at 2015 11:10 AM

2015-09-27T11:10:55-04:00

NO there are not. Mental illness is vastly under treated.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 27 at 2015 1:26 PM

2015-09-27T13:26:25-04:00

I feel like their are inefficiencies of our current system, but I don't where to start. Maybe I can start with not all PTSD SMs are treated equally upon redeploying.

Response by SN Alex Tufail made Sep 27 at 2015 3:01 PM

2015-09-27T15:01:08-04:00

I've come up with a solution. It will take time, and a lot of effort as a collective.
A lot of you have posted articles and resources on this thread, and it got me thinking. has anyone build a database that contains every single resource, big or small in every state? if we can develop a data base that has all these resources and are organized by services offered, and state. If this is a real issue, then it's time a for a real solution. While I am conducting Expedition You Are Not Alone, I can focus on getting these resources out the Veterans ans SM I meet along the trip. I have done research and found that a lot of organizations don't know where to find vets, and vets don't know how or where to find resources.
I hear a lot about the "One Stop Shop" but they don't cater to all veteran needs and not to all Vets. We don't need a "center." We need help. There has to be an effective way to get Veterans and resources connected without a middle man that tries to tell the vet what he or she needs. These middle men are just companies, organizations, and corporations that find ways to "raise funds" but those funds go to building state of the art facilities and don't focus on getting vets the care they need.
I don't want a fancy building and bunch of cool looking desks and people telling me they are here for me, and when I say "I want to be outside as much as possible" they come back with "well we don't really focus on that here, maybe you could do your own research and find an organization that can help."
There has to be resources available for every Veteran need, and I bet you if we collectively pool our thoughts, and personal resources together we can develop a database based on type of facility and or treatment needed, state and location of particular resources and organizations developed to actually get us connected with a whole sort of treatment options.
Even if we don't want treatment, we just want to hangout with out Vets in a particular setting or atmosphere; there has to be a way to connect those two together.

Response by SGT Rick Ash made Sep 28 at 2015 12:40 PM

2015-09-28T12:40:06-04:00

I don't think the general public is aware at all about ANY of the issues we face. The VA, and for me the KVDA (Kentucky) have been totally useless in trying to get my service connected issues addressed. I think the PTSD cases that we know about are only the tip of the iceberg. Service members past and present are reluctant to come forward to seek help for PTSD. Not that it matters much, the current VA employees are playing CYA and are even more useless than normal, IMHO. Family members are crucial in bringing depressed service members forward BEFORE they get to the point of being suicidal. Single members are in a more crucial environment as they have NO support infrastructure like family. We, as veterans without issues need to be pro-active in working with VSO's like the VFW or American Legion in helping our brothers and sisters. Remember, with only about 1% of the populace ever joining the service we are a relatively small brotherhood/sisterhood. Let's all get involved and work together. 22 veterans a day is a horribly high number. We know ABOUT both issues, let's find solutions!

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Sep 28 at 2015 3:04 PM

2015-09-28T15:04:10-04:00

I think that the biggest problem with veteran suicide is that the veterans either don't seek the assistance for their own reasons, valid ones or not, or they get frustrated with the system.
I checked out the Veterans Suicide prevention website and you have to fill out several pages of Q&A and leave a call back number and someone will get back to you in 24 hours, I mean really? WTF good is a call back when someone is thinking of taking their own life? Yes I know that call centers are not easy to run but doesn't someone who is contemplating ending their existence entitled to a bit more human interaction than a frigging Q&A and a promise of a call back. I'm not trading in my old phone here, its my life.

Response by Col Dona Marie Iversen made Aug 1 at 2016 7:20 PM

2016-08-01T19:20:54-04:00

There is a shortage of Behavioral Health professionals through out the country for Vets and civilians. It is not so much the # of professionals available it is the quality of these people. They are 'taught' how to listen and to treat but our population has a unique set of circumstances that as civilians will never fully comprehend or appreciate. Many of those suffering ask for help too late or not at all, sadly they truly believe the only out is suicide. Behavior Health still has a negative stigma, The stigma that must be addressed and awareness raised .

Response by SPC Thomas Ferguson made Aug 16 at 2017 10:59 PM

2017-08-16T22:59:00-04:00

I honestly know if there are enough resources out there and if the veterans know how to use the resources. As for people outside the military community, they have to be able to spot in vets they know. And be forward enough to do something about it. But also not humiliate or demean the vet in the process. There are some vets that may not seek help because it makes them feel weak, or they may need to just vent. And don't believe anyone will just listen without adding in their two cents. Alot of times we miss the signs until it's too late, hind sight being 20/20. The key is to know those at risk, and be able to know when they're asking for help which isn't always easy to do. I think if you know someone that might be at risk, take the proactive steps and let them know that you got their back. Going through combat you know you can count on your battle buddy. Coming back you loose touch with the battle buddy's. And it's easy to think you're alone, that nobody will understand how you're feeling and what you're going through.

The real question is how do we fix this so the veterans know they're not alone. That they always have someone to count on.

Clint Eastwood said it best in Gran Torino "what bothers a man the most isn't what he's ordered to do, it's what he's not ordered to do". I take that to mean you don't face combat alone, how do you face the "after-combat" alone?? YOU CAN'T!