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On Monday afternoon, here in Pittsburgh, a 31 year old female Veteran drove to the H.J. Heinz campus of the VA Pittsburgh health system. At 1:37pm, while standing in the parking lot, this Veteran took her life.
Of course, the VA came out and said that part of their investigation would include "what, if anything, we could have done better".
Obvisously, this tragic event has sent shock waves through not just the VA but all the Veteran Service Organizations in the area. As a Veteran Advocate working to empower Veterans, seeing yet another Veteran take his/her life is one too many. We are all overly familiar with the numbers. The number of 22 a day has been stated over and over again and people are trying to do some great things but we have a long road ahead of ourselves.
Of course, the VA came out and said that part of their investigation would include "what, if anything, we could have done better".
Obvisously, this tragic event has sent shock waves through not just the VA but all the Veteran Service Organizations in the area. As a Veteran Advocate working to empower Veterans, seeing yet another Veteran take his/her life is one too many. We are all overly familiar with the numbers. The number of 22 a day has been stated over and over again and people are trying to do some great things but we have a long road ahead of ourselves.
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Posted >1 y ago
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SGT Ben Keen, I can imagine how that tragic incident affects you personally, because you work with and advocate for veterans in the area.
I've recently had a lesson in mental illness - in my immediate family - and I understand now, better than ever, that these folks need help. Not talk, not waiting less than 30 days. When our daughter had a meltdown about ten days ago, we wanted immediate care for her. We did get it, but it's a long haul for a couple reasons: the individual can opt out of treatment, and if they're not "right" mentally, that's a serious problem. If nobody is advocating for them, they may very well wander off and fall off the system's radar screen.
And then there are those who know they need care, but have to wait to be seen. Who knows what might happen during that waiting period. If mental illness is involved, it can be a day-to-day deal, and every day they are not seen is a day that something very bad might happen.
I'm sure there are no easy answers to this. It's funny (weird) how having a close family member "break down" clarifies the issue for me. We are advocating for our daughter, but it's still hard, and we are not dealing with the VA, so it's not just hard to get care in the VA system.
I've recently had a lesson in mental illness - in my immediate family - and I understand now, better than ever, that these folks need help. Not talk, not waiting less than 30 days. When our daughter had a meltdown about ten days ago, we wanted immediate care for her. We did get it, but it's a long haul for a couple reasons: the individual can opt out of treatment, and if they're not "right" mentally, that's a serious problem. If nobody is advocating for them, they may very well wander off and fall off the system's radar screen.
And then there are those who know they need care, but have to wait to be seen. Who knows what might happen during that waiting period. If mental illness is involved, it can be a day-to-day deal, and every day they are not seen is a day that something very bad might happen.
I'm sure there are no easy answers to this. It's funny (weird) how having a close family member "break down" clarifies the issue for me. We are advocating for our daughter, but it's still hard, and we are not dealing with the VA, so it's not just hard to get care in the VA system.
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