VA Denies Cover-Up of Suicide Rates

[unhappycamper]

Source: military.com

VA Denies Cover-Up of Suicide Rates
April 26, 2008
Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO - A top-ranking official at the Department of Veterans Affairs defends the agency's treatment of disabled veterans and denies the agency has tried to cover up the number of veterans committing suicide.

Dr. Michael Kussman, a department undersecretary for health, testified during a trial in San Francisco federal court that will determine whether the VA is shirking its duty to provide adequate mental health care and other medical services to millions of veterans.

The two veterans groups suing the VA want U.S. District Court Judge Samuel Conti to order the agency to dramatically improve how fast it processes applications and how it delivers mental health care, especially when it comes to preventing suicides and treating post-traumatic stress disorder.

~snip~

For instance, VA Secretary James Peake told Congress in a Feb. 5 letter that 144 combat veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan committed suicide between October 2001 and December 2005.

Read more: http://www.military.com/news/article/va-denies-cover-up-of-suicide-rates.html?wh=wh

---

The very next paragraph alleges that there are 18 veteran's suicides a day.

[SpiralHawk]

1. Republicons treat our veterans like shit

Republicons can primp around all the want in their Chinese-made flag lapel pins. It don't mean shit. Here is more more more evidence that republicons -- especially their shameful CHICKENHAWK leadership - disrespect and maltreat our honorable US veterans.

Ptooey on the republicon chickenhawk brigade.

[BlueIris]

2. K&R& SHUT IT DOWN.

This war has to end. For the families.

[defendandprotect]

3. Pro-war, anti-troops --- boy do we need an extensive and deep investigation of all this!!

[TomInTib]

4. "aging Vietnam veterans who are reporting an increased number of health problems."

No shit...

And then (from the article)...

"Gonzalez also asked Kussman to explain several e-mail chains among agency officials that discussed an unwillingness to share suicide statistics with CBS News, which was preparing a story on the subject.

"I don't want to give CBS any more numbers on veterans suicides or attempts than they already have - it will only lead to more questions," wrote Everett A. Chasen, chief communications officer in a March 10 e-mail to several VA officials."


Bastards.

[4waterfalls]

5. war is hell

and we are so indoctrinated into the system that war and corporate hegemony are acceptable that we barely flinch at the toll.Even suicide rates of thousands of vets per year do not motivate us.What will motivate us to demand justice in all the myriad of areas where it sorely lacking?How do we demand it once it we realize we have to?

[rcsl1998]

6. The Republicans Shame This Nation nt