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22 Veterans A Day Are Killing Themselves
Personal | 4 June 2015 | blueunicorn6

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.


TOPICS: History; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: suicide; va; veteransuicide; woundedwarriors
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To: blueunicorn6

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.


81 posted on 06/05/2015 3:37:59 PM PDT by Enlightened1
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To: SgtBob

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...


82 posted on 06/05/2015 3:46:18 PM PDT by stevie_d_64 (I will settle for a "perfectly good, gently used" kidney...Apply within...)
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To: stevie_d_64

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!


83 posted on 06/05/2015 4:01:26 PM PDT by SgtBob (Freedom is not for the faint of heart. Semper Fi!)
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To: stevie_d_64

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.


84 posted on 06/05/2015 10:16:55 PM PDT by superfries
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To: superfries

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...


85 posted on 06/06/2015 8:31:15 AM PDT by stevie_d_64 (I will settle for a "perfectly good, gently used" kidney...Apply within...)
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To: gorush
Just a guess.

And a pretty horrible one at that.

86 posted on 06/06/2015 8:32:59 AM PDT by Future Snake Eater (CrossFit.com)
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To: stevie_d_64

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.


87 posted on 06/06/2015 6:19:39 PM PDT by superfries
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To: blueunicorn6

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


88 posted on 06/06/2015 6:28:05 PM PDT by Chickensoup (Leftist totalitarian fascism is on the move.)
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To: AbnSarge

Agreed. Know a Viet era vet who just suicided over criminal charges. Had nothing to do with his military status.


89 posted on 06/06/2015 6:31:07 PM PDT by Chickensoup (Leftist totalitarian fascism is on the move.)
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To: MV=PY

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


90 posted on 06/06/2015 6:35:47 PM PDT by Chickensoup (Leftist totalitarian fascism is on the move.)
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To: onedoug

Don’t do that “thang”. You have not a clue. Quit, now.


91 posted on 06/06/2015 6:45:53 PM PDT by RedHeeler
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To: blueunicorn6

You should look him up, again.


92 posted on 06/06/2015 6:54:04 PM PDT by RedHeeler
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To: Chickensoup

I’ll bet you’re right.


93 posted on 06/06/2015 6:55:52 PM PDT by MV=PY (The Magic Question: Who's paying for it?)
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To: RedHeeler

??????


94 posted on 06/06/2015 7:13:41 PM PDT by onedoug
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To: onedoug

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.


95 posted on 06/06/2015 7:23:01 PM PDT by RedHeeler
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To: RedHeeler
I was scared out of my socks in Vietnam, and saw some pretty horrible things in combat up to my ears, as did everyone I was with over there. But they didn’t show any signs of PTSD then, and I never did either, and have been just fine for 46 years now.

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.

96 posted on 06/06/2015 8:53:16 PM PDT by onedoug
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To: onedoug

You’re right.


97 posted on 06/06/2015 8:55:05 PM PDT by RedHeeler
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To: RedHeeler

When I get to Heaven, I will. It is a comfort to know that I will see my mentor and friend later.


98 posted on 06/07/2015 6:38:31 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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