DoD, VA suicide prevention efforts on Capitol Hill

2014-11-18T16:57:57-05:00

From: Navy Times

A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation Monday designed to improve access to mental health services for troops and veterans and strengthen the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments' suicide prevention efforts.

The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention bill would require the Pentagon and VA to submit to an independent review of their suicide prevention programs.

It also would establish a website to provide consolidated information on mental health services available to veterans and seeks to improve VA's recruitment efforts for quality psychiatrists by establishing a student loan reimbursement program for doctors who sign on to work for VA for a number of years.

Clay Hunt was a former Marine who died in 2011 by suicide after having actively sought treatment for combat-related depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Before his death, Hunt performed humanitarian work in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake and was a key member of a group of former military personnel who formed the disaster relief organization Team Rubicon.

Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz.; Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Richard Burr, R-N.C.; Roy Blunt, R-Mo.; Lisa Murkowski, R-Ark.; and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., co-sponsored the bill to provide "additional resources for veterans who suffer from mental health disorders that place them on higher risk of suicide," according to a release

"Our nation has a long way to go to decrease the rate of suicide among our veterans and we must do much better in fulfilling our responsibilities to care for those who have risked everything on behalf of their fellow Americans," the senators wrote.

House lawmakers in July introduced their own Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans bill — legislation that would require VA to submit to yearly evaluations of its suicide and mental health programs, team with the National Guard to improve care for members and establish a peer support outreach program for veterans.

The bill, sponsored by Reps. Jeff Miller, R-Fla.; Tim Walz, D-Minn.; and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., also would require the Defense Department to establish a review process for troops who received unfavorable discharges possibly because of behavioral problems related to traumatic brain injury or PTSD.

In July testimony before the the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Hunt's mother, Susan Selke, said the legislation would have helped her son and she urged its passage to save other veterans from suffering.

"Clay's story details the urgency needed in addressing this issue," she said. "Despite his proactive and open approach to seeking care to address his injuries, the VA system did not adequately address his needs."

Selke, other family members and veterans advocates are scheduled to testify Wednesday before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee on military and veterans suicides.

Joining them will be Dr. Harold Kudler, chief consultant for mental health services for the Veterans Health Administration.

"An estimated 22 veterans commit suicide every day, a shocking and unacceptable reality," wrote the sponsors of the Senate Clay Hunt suicide prevention bill. "This bipartisan legislation [would] improve and modernize the suicide prevention programs and resources available to our fighting men and women."

http://www.navytimes.com/story/veterans/2014/11/18/congress-pentagon-veterans-affairs-suicide-initiatives/19220877/

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Nov 18 at 2014 4:56 PM

2014-11-18T16:56:58-05:00

There have been continuous programs to stop suicides by soldiers, but I feel like they have not generated a study to find the reasons for the suicides in the first place. They generally focus on talking to someone about your problems, and then finding them professional help, which is good. I have however seen many people who have issues that refuse to talk to a professional for whatever reason, which limits programs such as this.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 5:00 PM

2014-11-18T17:00:44-05:00

But will it require veterans to do annual suicide prevention briefings?

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Nov 18 at 2014 5:16 PM

2014-11-18T17:16:25-05:00

The VA needs to do a little more to help veterans when it comes to mental health not just throwing meds at them. I know when i tried to get set up with a mental health appointment it took three months for them to even schedule one for me to go too and it was another 3 weeks before my appointment date. I think the main problem is the VA is flooded when it come to mental health if they could set up a program and spread the patient list to outside providers to help lighten the load. I was told by my Physc. she wanted me to attend therapy when i went to schedule for therapy they said that they were full but could set me up with the vet center. If they could of done something like this to see a Physc. i think it would of been better then waiting what felt like a life time to get my initial help.

Response by CPL Robert Washington made Nov 18 at 2014 6:56 PM

2014-11-18T18:56:15-05:00

I'm happy this subject is being address. It's hard out here and with 1) mental health stigmas, 2) a lack of support (side note but this really needs to be another topic: It really bugs me to hear or read this after someone commits suicide, "They took the cowards way out"... or "A real man or woman wouldn't choose that as an option, etc.) and most of all 3) our pride. Throwing 20 pills at someone is crazy. Medication is a evil-necessary, I guess but not the answer. Focusing more on the healing, educating the patients/physicians (groups are okay but a group for everything and everyday is just babysitting at the VA. How about some Classes and one on ones), emergent issues / adjusting, and better support systems is just a few things I would like to see.

Response by PO1 Autumn Sandeen made Nov 18 at 2014 7:27 PM

2014-11-18T19:27:35-05:00

I have a chronic mental health condition, and the VA is chronically understaffed in mental health doctors and therapists. Thank the gawds I have outside health insurance for the the therapy I need to fill in the gap.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 8:42 PM

2014-11-18T20:42:43-05:00

About time, our brothers and sisters, as well as a lot of us deserves this. Long overdue, to say the least.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 11:04 PM

2014-11-18T23:04:38-05:00

every effort to attempt to reach out the hurting brothers and sisters, even if it saves only one life is an effort worth pursuing.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2014 5:47 AM

2014-11-19T05:47:25-05:00

DAMN SHAME! i personally know heroes who have fought for this country that are going through tough times. Chris Bemiss, Ranger, is in a wheel chair and battled PTSD and is winning that fight. Look his story up. there is a documentary coming out soon about him. He was on the edge of suck starting a pistol when a fellow ranger brother got a hold of him, Jason B. Granger. together, they found a way to fight his PTSD and depression. Jason died in a parachuting accident Dec 27th last year. and while Chris lost his best friend, his Ranger brother, his counselor, Chris is managing his demons quite nice. Jason managed to help Chris out enough before he left. Chris up and moved to the west coast to be near Jason's 3 sons and be there for them, the way their dad was there for Chris. His story is a testament that PTSD is treatable as long as you understand the demons. You cant go get a degree form a college to help people battle "war demons". it takes another who fought those same demons and won. People like Jason Granger are the only ones that Veterans actually relate to. the guy that went through the shit and survived. Chris Bemiss is now a major contributor to the battle of Veteran Suicides and PTSD.

If you know anyone who is going through some tough times, please share Chris' Story with them. have them contact him on Facebook. He is a leader among men. But remember, Chris is a Ranger. He's not in anymore, but one thing I've learned about those Batt Boys, Once a Ranger, Always a Ranger. He won't sugar coat anything, but he will definitely share his experiences with anyone.

Response by CSM David Heidke made Nov 19 at 2014 9:54 AM

2014-11-19T09:54:44-05:00

I have asked this question and never really gotten much of an answer.

It would be nice to see a comparison of the rate of suicide in the military to the rate of suicide in the civilian population. The reason I ask is that you see Soldiers who make the choice to commit suicide who have never deployed.

I asked a similar question of a senior civilian for safety regarding the rate of motorcycle accidents in the Military vs. the civilian sector and he admitted that there was not disparity between the two.

We should do everything in our power as leaders to take care of our people. I would just like to see what the scope of the issue is compared to the amount of time we spend on it.

Response by PO3 Brendan "Smitty" Smith made Nov 19 at 2014 10:02 AM

2014-11-19T10:02:05-05:00

While I'm pleased that the Senate is taking some action in regard to this issue, until I see some actual results, I just don't have any faith in the VA. Instead, I put my faith in other organizations that are run by veteran's and are dedicated to being proactive. To reach out and find at risk veterans and help them get help before suicide is an option. Organizations like;

Battle Bros.
http://www.battle-bros.com
At Battle Bros they have a database of at risk veterans. Their volunteers (all active duty or vets) reach out to one person in the data base each day for a quick phone call. Just to let them know, you're not alone. You have brothers and sisters who understand and we won't let you face your demons alone.

Warrior Pointe
http://www.warriorpointe.org
Warrior Pointe is also made up only of Active Duty and Veterans. It's a national organization broken up into Brigades, States, and Local chapters. It's very much like the VFW or the American Legion with two major differences. First, there are no dues. You paid them by serving. Second, unlike those two organizations, there are no limitations on when/where you served. The goal is to provide an organization with local and national support to all of our veterans regardless of when you served.

I don't trust the VA to take care of us. I don't trust Uncle Sam. They've broken that trust with me and have a lot of work ahead to rebuild it. I only trust my brothers and sisters who served. We're the ones actually doing something about this issue and not just talking about it.

Response by SPC David S. made Nov 19 at 2014 12:01 PM

2014-11-19T12:01:26-05:00

In general the mental health care systems is broken. This is not just a VA specific issue however it is exasperated by the number of individuals with PTSD. Having helped a friend in crisis I feel the mental health care system needs to be reexamined. If you are having a mental health crisis your only option is to go to your closet emergency room. If the hospital has mental health facilities and a bed you can get admitted. Unfortunately more and more hospitals are either reducing of closing these wards ( at least in Illinois they are). So in reality you will spend 24 hours in an emergency room waiting for a bed to open up at a different hospital and then be transferred ($1000 out of pocket). If you are is crisis you can not call a hospital and find out if they have a bed due to privacy issues. This information is not given out. Additional there is the issue of doctors who only offer out patient care vs. in patient care. These are often two different doctors who do not always relay information or opt to use like treatment plans or methods. The mental health care system in my opinion is broken and extremely understaffed. So even if the VA opened up to outside resources the problem is merely transposed. I feel that this is all tied to money as many with mental health issues may have a hard time holding down a full-time job with health insurance benefits. So there is no money in it for the hospitals. 20 suicides a day and 1 in 5 homeless males are vets. This is a travesty in the promise we made to our fellow service members. Its about time they started to address the issue.

Response by SSG John Bacon made Nov 19 at 2014 1:01 PM

2014-11-19T13:01:44-05:00

If cCapitol Hill truly wanted to help they would give Veterans their health care plan and their retirement pay plan! That would eleviate alot of the problem right there.