Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.): VA lying about number of veteran suicides

[babylonsister]

Senator: VA lying about number of veteran suicides
By Les Blumenthal | McClatchy Newspapers

* Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2008



WASHINGTON — The Veterans Administration has lied about the number of veterans who've attempted suicide, a senator charged Wednesday, citing internal e-mails that put the number at 12,000 a year when the department was publicly saying it was fewer than 800.

"The suicide rate is a red-alarm bell to all of us," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. Murray also said that the VA's mental health programs are being overwhelmed by Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, even as the department tries to downplay the situation.

"We are not your enemy, we are your support team, and unless we get accurate information we can't be there to do our jobs," Murray told Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon Mansfield during the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing.

Mansfield told Murray and the other senators that he didn't think the VA had deliberately tried to mislead Congress or the public.

Murray remained skeptical, however, saying that the VA has demonstrated a pattern of misleading Congress about the increasing number of soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and are now seeking help and straining Defense Department and VA facilities and programs.

more...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/34718.html

[tabasco]

1. I just got a disability approved.

First letter I got from VA was about suicide.

[Mnemosyne]

2. Was it about suicide prevention?

My cynical first thought was they might try to encourage it to keep from paying out disability.

Please tell me I am wrong. :(

And please, please take good care of yourself! :hug:

[tabasco]

3. Yes, it was. LOL.

It would be interesting to get a letter form the government encouraging you to commit suicide!

[Mnemosyne]

4. I get one every year.

My property tax bill. :evilgrin: