Suicide Prevention

August 22, 2013 — 4 Comments

Everything I know about suicide prevention I learned as a volunteer at the VA.  We were given training in order to spot and prevent suicidal tendencies.  The powerpoint included many graphs that drew a grim picture of the rise in military suicide.  The number killing themselves had already surpassed the number killed in battle, and the line was hyperbolic.  They also showed us the most at risk groups by state, age, and other demographics.  They showed us how many Vets had committed suicide within days of a visit to a VA facility.  They showed us in scientific and very graphic terms how seriously they were failing to prevent suicide.  At the end of the factual part of the presentation they told us the solution for all involved was trust the VA.  They said if we reported the suicidal patient to the VA they would make sure it would be handled professionally.  They saw no irony in showing us how miserably they were failing, and then asking us to trust them.  I had worked with them for years, and had not seen them execute reasonable care for the patients I visited.  My guys were frustrated and unhappy with VA services.  I was unhappy too because it was impossible to upgrade any of them.

My last Vet had been not only vocally suicidal for a long time, but had been allowed to go alone out in traffic with his electric scooter on a busy street.  Demographically, he was in the top percentile of the group most likely to kill themselves.   He lived in a care home, care being the obvious missing feature.  He had problems too numerous to mention that were never solved by his visiting VA social worker who was dispatched to help his with his day to day issues.  My experience trying to help him from within a wasteful, non functional  system funded by my tax dollars made me feel angry and hopeless.  They asked us to report problems with the Vet’s care, but then did nothing to remedy the problems.  I had to eventually resign from the program because it made me feel much worse knowing how the Vets are really treated.  To say it left a bitter taste in my mouth is an understatement.  I need to remedy that.

It is never a good idea to go around with a bitterness. Some bloggers I admire and want to emulate are promoting a fund raising effort for Suicide Prevention Week, Sept 8-14, 2013.  Funds raised in this campaign will be used to keep the IamAlive hotline open 24 hours a day.  I am proud to support this effort.  Suicide is not a personal problem as much as society’s issue, especially when our retired and active duty service members are so much at risk.  This simple fundraiser benefits any and everyone who may be in a moment of terror.  That could be anyone, any time.