VA Suicide Prevention Hotline Flooded with Calls

[babylonsister]

http://publicbroadcasting.net/wbfo/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1149028§ionID=1

VA Suicide Prevention Hotline Flooded with Calls
Joyce Kryszak



BUFFALO, NY (2007-09-17) Thousands of distressed veterans have flooded the the Veterans Affairs new suicide prevention hotline.

The VA opened the new national call center about a month ago to respond to the growing number of returning troops experiencing mental health problems. The 24 hour call center is located in Canandagua, New York but takes calls from veterans anywhere in the country.

About 4,500 people, including some non-veterans, have called the hotline for help. Of those, 100 were admitted to VA hospitals for treatment. Three of those cases were referred to Buffalo's VA Medical Center.

Michael Finegan is Director of the Center. He says they have long provided emergency mental health care at the facility. But he says the hotline adds another level of critical response.

It's estimated that roughly 50,000 returning veterans suffer from some type of combat related mental health stress.

[babylonsister]

1. Hello? Is anybody in there? Are you sick of hearing about sick soldiers? nt

[BeHereNow]

2. Just saw your thread- and no, I am not sick of hearing about soldiers-

We need to shout this one from the roof tops.
The soul of this nation has been for ever
stained.
K&R
BHN

[babylonsister]

4. Thanks. This was upsetting to me. What does this tell everyone? nt

[BeHereNow]

5. What we at DU have known for years...that they would come home one day.

They are coming home- broken.
Where are all the yellow ribbon wavers now?
Support the troops, rah rah rah...
Oh wait, no, we don't want to look at the
results of war, let's go shopping instead!
BHN

[w8liftinglady]

3. I'm tired of soldiers getting sick-and our government's screwing of them when they come home

K&R

[babylonsister]

6. This is worse than 'sick'. This is life-threatening or -ending. Soul

sickness. :(