KIA vs Veteran Suicide: One is an epidemic. What are you doing to help?

CSM Michael J. Uhlig Veterans Suicide is also very disturbing to me. I do understand having PTSD, being depressed, and just feeling like there is no way out, at time. But suicide is NOT the answer !! I was lucky enough to have friends who noticed that I was changing. I was referred to a psychologist who was a great help.

If there is a Vet with problems such as these, they are always welcome to visit my new(ish) Facebook page (address is shown below), called "VS Zero". "VS Zero" stands for "Veteran Suicides Zero", and that is our ultimate goal. The site has lots of links to sites that can help Vets in crisis. Vets can also catch us online, or leave a message on the page, and Stormy, or myself, will get back with you as soon as possible.

CSM Michael J. Uhlig My personal experiences with my soldiers that have, or tried to commit suicide lead me to believe, there is little to do, until it's time to act.. You get there by being approachable and listen not just to them to you, but them to others. You watch for clinical signs.. but really that means listen to others who have observed them.. as a senior leader I rarely was in a time and place to observe them 1st hand.
I struggle to this day with the question "What did I miss" ...the question hurts but is consoled with the answer,,,,, nothing I was able to see........but it still hurts.

I recommend we closely examine the correlation between the over-prescribing of psychotropic meds and antidepressant drug withdrawal and suicides, especially in the veteran community. There are numerous research studies and emerging lawsuits pointing in that direction:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-peter-breggin/malpractice-suit-suicide_b_2194007.html

I met a Reserve Officer in Wal-Mart who got seriously screwed by the system. VA's a nightmare without any help. He was basically shoved out the door with-out ANYTHING being done. His Unit didn't know anything about sending him through the Medical Discharge Process. Getting all your Physical issues documented. He was a YOUNG guy too. Mid-20s. I talked to him for almost an hour just wandering around the store. I told him he needed to get in touch with a Service Organization like DAV or The Legion. He was at the end of his rope and told me, just being able to talk to someone else about the nightmare that he was going through helped. I gave him my number and told him he could call me anytime he needed to talk and put him in touch with the local DAV. I also gave him directions to my Legion. I may not be an expert but I do know the nightmare that VA can be and I know how to listen. I basically treated him like one of my Soldiers. I may be out but the mentality of an NCO never goes away. Your Soldiers welfare should always be your number one priority.

Sounds like we really have 133,753 KIA, just some of the action was delayed. They took the injuries home and those hidden wounds end up being fatal.

WOW, CSM Michael J. Uhlig , I was unaware how large and sobering the number was. We all need to reach out to the vets we know and try to pull them back into the brotherhood.

What we are doing in Upstate, SC is we have formed a Veteran Network unlike any other I have been a part of. Here are the details:

Mission: Greenville Veteran Network exists to connect Veterans for the purpose of building a business network of reliable professionals and improve the effectiveness of Veteran-focused organizations in the area through meaningful personal and professional relationships.

Focus: Ensure Veterans have the skills and knowledge to compete and excel in the Greenville business community through education, mentorship, and relationship building.

Desired Outcomes:
1. Business relationships yield increased closed business and better employment opportunities for group members.
2. Personal relationships, increased opportunities and personal/professional purpose of individuals completely halt veteran suicides in Greenville/Spartanburg area.
3. The educated network committed to action, accountability, and acuity increases the effectiveness of Veteran-focused organizations in the Upstate.

We just started the group, but we are confident that, through our efforts, we will end Veteran Suicide in the Upstate by getting to the root of the problem rather than treating the symptoms.

Veteran suicide in the USA is terribly troubling ; but, it has not reached epidemic status yet, thank Gog CSM Michael J. Uhlig. I know a number who have committed suicide and many who attempted but were not successful. I personally know some who seem to have accidentally overdoes on drugs.
As somebody who has contemplated suicide in the depths of depression I am very sensitive to others who are depressed. I hope and pray that each veteran who is clinically depressed has at least one trustworthy person in their life who they can turn to for advice who will help them and turn a blind eye or a deaf ear.
On the other hand suicides among ISIS, BOKO Haram, and other islamic terrorists has been increasing. It would be a boon for us if those suicides were committed alone. Unfortunately radical islamic suicides tend to include homicides which is terribly troubling.

1. I made a resolution not to commit suicide because it was not all about me. 2. I had one belly putton to push and that was the emergency room. It was simple and effective.