Twenty two Veterans take their own life every day. You have heard the staggering numbers, over 8000 a year. But is this something that we should be focusing on, be raising money for? The humble opinion of this Retired SGM says not exactly. WHAT did he say? Well hang on and read a little further.
Veteran suicide is sweeping the Nation like an epidemic. So, let's use that analogy then to solve this problem. If we are going to stop an epidemic, do we expend money and effort talking about the deaths after they happen, yes, but little compared to finding the cause of the disease, find the the vector that spreads it, educate those who might get it how to prevent getting it, teach them what to expect. So this should be our attack plan with this "epidemic".
Find the cause of the disease. Ok, that is mostly simple; PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), MST (Military Sexual Trauma and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). But we need to do more work to treat the PTSD, MST and TBI early on. We must teach those who have been in situations that may cause one of these 3 injuries, about what to expect, what symptoms are triggers to indicate the injuries are not in control, and provide education as to how to reduce the strength of the symptoms through things like meditation, yoga, art therapy, equine therapy, cognitive based therapy, properly dosed medication in conjunction with their Primary Care Provider-provided medications for other injuries.
Once the symptoms show up, we must get rid of the vectors that "spread" PTSD into a chain of negative behavior and results, causing a downward spiral of unemployment, relationship issues with spouses, children, friends and family, homelessness, and loss of hope. So, how do we do that? We need to help warriors get, and keep, employment buy helping them transition into Veteran life, teaching them how to redevelop civilian-based skills, get a trade/skill and have proper clothing to wear to work in a professional office.
The next "vector," relationships. We must provide resources that help those who have been through terrible trauma, who are looking to avoid relationships, establish and maintain relationships based on being back home; relationships that are safe. We must teach them to recognize their triggers, to teach the others in the relationship those triggers, so that when they occur, and they will, they are prepared to use tools to bring them back down. This includes spouses, kids, parents and his/her buddies.
Next "vector," homelessness. At this point, things are going poorly and efforts to turn this downward spiral back upward through finding Veteran-related shelters where counseling such as financial, mental health, relationship, physical-therapy etc can be taught in a safe place where other Vets with similar issues. A place to give them hope. Then it's important to transition them back into back their own, self-supported residence.
So, educate, resource and support those who are being affected by their PTSD, MST or TBI. Stop focusing solely on the 22 are taking their own lives every day. Focus on the 1 million who have PTSD, MST and TBI every day. Everyone one of the 22 likely followed the path above, so focus on the path. Stop the trip before it goes down the path and there is still time to turn the trip around before it ends up the final parking lot.
Our Until It Is Zero Project will take this approach this summer. It is the right path... This is an open discussion, so feel free to join the conversation below
--SGM DTB
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