Suicides on VA properties sound the alarm on veteran care

[JonLP24]

Veterans can talk with a trained counselor through the Veterans Crisis Line. Dial 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to talk to someone, or send a text message to 838255 to connect with a VA responder. Or visit MilitaryCrisisLine.net if you are an active duty service member, guardsman or reservist.

St. Paul, Minn. — On average, about 20 veterans a day die by suicide. Since 2017, 25 veterans have taken their lives on the grounds of Veterans Affairs hospitals, including seven this year and at least four last month.

In February of last year, Justin Miller died by suicide in the parking lot of a Veterans Administration hospital in Minneapolis. The Marine veteran was 33. Justin, a trumpet player, made the band, but the Marines saw he could make another contribution as a marksman in Iraq manning a checkpoint with bomb-sniffing dogs.

(snip)

Experts in this field say veterans who kill themselves on VA grounds are making a statement about their treatment. A federal investigation of Miller's death said the Minneapolis VA made multiple mistakes, from not scheduling a follow-up to overlooking his access to firearms.

"They have people, but they're not trained the way they're supposed to be," Miller said.

Some 6,000 veterans kill themselves every year. VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, whose department serves 9.5 million people, said in the last year, they have had 240 interventions where they stopped veterans from taking their lives. Since October, the VA has screened 900,000 veterans for mental health issues.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/united-states-military-veteran-suicides-on-veterans-affairs-properties-sound-the-alarm-on-veteran-care/

[Corgigal]

1. Or it might sound the alarm

of what war does to a human brain. Every time I call the VA, or come in for a scheduled appointment I have to go through 5-8 questions about suicide. I'm fine, but would like a synthroid refill. They try , but can any facility stop all suicides?

I wish all civilians had one appt at the VA. Then maybe we can get pass the boogeyman here.
You want to stop people from hurting themselves, close down some of these forever lasting wars.

[JonLP24]

3. I agree

I went to Kuwait/Iraq & 99% of the time I'm fine but suicidal depression is like sneezing, unexpected reflex or that is the way it is for me anyway.

[malaise]

2. What is amazing is how little coverage this has received

Get thee to the greatest page

[MartyTheGreek]

4. VA Must Issue Guidance on Cannabis relief for PTSD sleep and wellness...

Last edited Thu May 9, 2019, 08:27 AM - Edit history (1)

because the Vets served for all of these United States and if legal in one, then legal for ANY Vet needing let's say alternative plant medicine.

I'm very pleased with my Local VA Out Patient Clinic in VA Beach in terms of convenience and appointments. I have non-combat PTSD that I acquired as a civilian during a near death stabbing with a couple bikers and a few other near misses that happened as a shipboard firefighter and Navy diver. The Regional VA does have some issues and lately the pharmacy, my doc or someone, is ordering my prescriptions automatically and mailing to me and now I have an expensive bill to try to correct so currently, the online pharmacy needs fixed but other than that I'm satisfied but concerned...

Over the years, I tried the pill mill pharma mafia gambit from Abilify to Zoloft and they all made me feel like a zombie in one way or another. My last meds were benzos which were the worst to try to come off with me shaving the pills with a razor to lessen to dosage. During this course, I self medicated with street pot for years and nearly got in trouble for it and had to go to counseling for a year for SUBSTANCE abuse.

My VA shrink can't give me any guidance on Cannabis because of this stupid Fed Sched I rule, yet in states where legal, Vet suicides and overdoses are down significantly because vets are treating themselves with legal cannabis. Even CBD oil a derivative, is not allowed to be discussed, but I'm getting THE BEST Sleep that I haven't had in decades with no drowsiness or pill hangover in the AM.

Solution: Create a waiver to add Cannabis to the VA Pharmacy to be shipped to the Vet in ANY State of the Union that the Vet fought for dammit and we can all watch these unnecessary suicides and overdoses drop dramatically.

[Farmer-Rick]

5. The VA can be very tone deaf about mental health

I recently lost both my wife and mother. I called them looking for some counseling. The Psych department doctor called me back and told me to Google it. Yup, that was their response to wanting grief counseling. I am a disabled 20 year vet and I was told to Google it. Great service there.

I then tried a local grief group that I found on Google. But they wanted me to hold hands and pray to this God that according to them had killed both my wife and my mother within 2 months of each other. If I heard one more time that their god never gives you more than you can handle, I swear I was going to strangle the religious fool.

So, now I'm using TriCare ...I hope they pay for part of it...and am scheduled with a counselor.

But yeah, it seems the VA is set up to help but unless you threaten to kill yourself, they just can't seem to be bothered.

[JonLP24]

6. The clinic I go to has been very helpful

I understand it hasn't been great every where else. The numbers I posted personally only worked out 1 time it seemed most of the time they couldn't be bothered.

[MartyTheGreek]

7. Honor your service!

Sorry to hear about your loss! I had an anxiety attack one year and drove to the VA Regional Hospital for help. I ran out of shrink meds, think it was the benzos then that caused me to panic when I ran out because they kept me in a stupor state. The duty physician ordered me locked in a room for an hour of observation and questioning. They did not give me any meds but that little talk therapy did help some and I drove home after a couple hours and zoned out for the holiday weekend.

I know this hurts especially around the holidays. I lost my dad to MS and my ex to an affair in the same month and that was devastating to me. Back then the SSRIs kept me somewhat num minded in an alternate reality and I was drinking heavily.

I did find the VA group meetings somewhat helpful but many were not interested in getting off addictive meds. Feel free to reach out to me anytime in need. Also, consider joining a DAV group for support as well. R/Marty

[Farmer-Rick]

8. Yeah, I thought the VA would offer me a group or something

But all I got was how to Google.

The DAV group here is run by a crazy RepubliCON. I had too many arguments with him to want to join. It was kind of funny to see because I outrank most of them and they seem to think that would make me an even more crazy Republicon. Plus I'm an atheist and that always makes them uncomfortable here in the bible belt.

Thanks for the offer to talk. I'll keep it in mind.