Posted on 06/04/2015 3:27:37 PM PDT by blueunicorn6
22 Veterans kill themselves every day.
Why?
I've seen this figure in print several times.
These are people who were tough enough and strong enough and brave enough and dedicated enough and smart enough to make it through Basic Training, Specialty Skills Training (AIT) and the rigors of military duty.
Yet, they are killing themselves when they get back to the United States.
Why?
The claim is that something horrible happened to them in combat. They have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
OK. Let's for arguments sake accept that every Veteran that commits suicide was involved in one or several horrible incidents.
Why didn't they just kill themselves then, or close afterwards? They had easy access to weapons and ammunition. Why wait until they are back in The United States.
The argument is that time is the culprit. The incidents wear on the Veteran.
OK.
What about the WWII Veterans? Did the Soldiers who saw awful things on the battlefield at the start of the war then kill themselves four years later on a different battlefield?
I've seen no studies showing that.
PTSD is real and it is a problem.
But it's not the only problem.
22 Veterans are killing themselves each day. Their lives were so miserable that the only relief they could see was by killing themselves.
Why?
Time is a factor, but it's not the only factor.
There is more.
It is very convenient for our nation to slap a PTSD diagnosis on someone and give them a couple hundred bucks disability and then walk away.
OK.
But these aren't people who should be so discouraged that they take their own lives. They were tough, resourceful, dedicated, smart.
What happened when they got back home? What did they see and experience here that caused them to end their lives?
If 22 college professors were killing themselves every day, the country would start a war on suicide.
But, they're just Veterans.
My suspicion is that it’s the long term use of prescription medication. Mainly the Psychotropic drugs.
Many people I see on these drugs long term drugs over time slowly become crazy. It’s really sad to watch.
I have watched it happen to 5 people now.
Real quick...I might consider reading a response from you concerning #54 and #55...
Rest assured I will not be holding my breath...
Seems to me she and I made a couple of astute comments there...Fairly productive...
I find it interesting that you think the data is suspect.....seems we’re on the same page.
One life lost is too many, and the data is BS.
Handshake offered, and FReegards!
You said
“Granted, there are a few Vets who are able to put these stresses in the appropriate file, and are able to deal with it the rest of their lives”
I said that statement is .... “is way off base.”
Nobody assessed you. I told you to speak for yourself. What is all this BS about me wanting to see your medals?
You would do well to keep yielding to my greatness.
Wow, you are a legend in your own mind...
Obviously YOU did not understand/comprehend what I said, so going forward, I only ask what you think you meant by “way off base”???
What was so difficult about that statement that has yer feathers in a ruffle???
Do you not agree there are quite a few combat Veterans who have been able (without a lot of counseling, forced, or volunteered) that have been able to overcome those “awful” things, and been able to live a life free from over diagnosing, and medications, to put them into a compromised state of mind after their discharges???
Do you not believe those types of Vets are a value to those others who may have a few problems, and that just talking about the issues, or not (depends), does tend to help???
I mean, not be ambiguous about any of this, and speaking for myself, here’s your chance to spill the beans and tell us of yer self-imposed greatness...
And a pretty horrible one at that.
you said that you yielded to my greatness....now you are saying it is self-imposed greatness...which is it? While you are at it, put my bags over there.
22 veterans a day is a misleading title.
It seems to mean that young men from recent wars are committing suicide in unprecedented amounts.
However this suicide rate included a high risk group, men from 50 on up, in other words WWII, Viet Name and Desert Storm vets. Older men are the highest risk for completed suicide in the country.
Just understand the stats
Agreed. Know a Viet era vet who just suicided over criminal charges. Had nothing to do with his military status.
the confounding factor is that the veteran cohort contains a large amount of 50+ males who are the group most likely to complete suicide. If the cohort was made up of group that more reflected the general population I am sure those stats would drop considerably
Don’t do that “thang”. You have not a clue. Quit, now.
You should look him up, again.
I’ll bet you’re right.
??????
The- “I served and went through hell. Why didn’t everyone else feel the same as ME, afterwards?” The amount of crap, in that attitude, is monumental.
I've set the guys I served with and myself as a standard, which I believe is reasonably accurate.
You don't like it? Sin loi.
You’re right.
When I get to Heaven, I will. It is a comfort to know that I will see my mentor and friend later.
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