Suicide, a major public health concern that affects everyone, takes the lives of an estimated 45,000 Americans–including 6,000 Veterans–each year. To combat Veteran suicide, President Donald J. Trump recently signed an executive order (EO) titled “National Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End Suicide” (PREVENTS), directing the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the director of the White House Domestic Policy Council to co-chair and create an interagency task force to develop a plan implementing a road map for the prevention of Veteran suicide at the national and community level.

As a result, the task force is releasing a Request for Information (RFI) to gather feedback on how to improve research and the use of research to radically reduce Veteran suicide. Through this RFI, and to ensure the broadest stakeholder input in the development of the national research strategy, VA is seeking input on ways to increase knowledge about factors influencing suicidal behaviors and ways to prevent suicide; inform the development of a robust and forward-looking research agenda; coordinate relevant research efforts across the Nation; and measure progress on these efforts. The public input provided in response to this RFI will inform the Veteran wellness, empowerment and suicide prevention task force, who will develop and implement the national research strategy.

“Veteran suicide requires an all-hands on-deck approach to preserve the lives of our Veterans who have served our country,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie.

“This is a call to action. In order to decrease the rate of Veteran suicide, we need to engage our local and community partners in addition to leveraging the resources of the departments.”

To advance the president’s vision, the Office of Science and Technology, Executive Office of the President and VA will lead the development of the national research strategy to improve coordination, monitoring, benchmarking and execution of public- and private-sector research related to the factors that contribute to Veteran suicide.

All public comments regarding the RFI are welcome and should be submitted by August 5, 2019, to ensure they are considered in the national research strategy. Responses may be submitted online at https://www.research.va.gov/PREVENTS/.


A former U.S. Army National Guardsman with more than 14 years of government service, Tatjana Christian is a public affairs officer in VA’s Office of Media Relations, aligned under the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs.

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40 Comments

  1. You know who I am July 10, 2019 at 23:07

    This is one of the biggest smokescreens I’ve seen this year.

    Spending millions of dollars pretending to care about veteran suicide through emotional lip service hasn’t reduced suicide numbers over the past couple decades so what makes people think it’s ever going to work?

    Maybe listening to “experts” who believe in nothing if it doesn’t involve exponentially worsening the life of the veteran in crisis is a bad idea.

    Invite 2000 Veterans who have experienced a crisis situation and been subjected to the pathetic “approach to suicide prevention” and let them draft a program to prevent suicide.

    The instant a veteran or Service member asks for help everything in their life gets worse.

    The truth is the VA, DOD and DFAS all love dead Veterans. Dead Veterans save money. DFAS pays nothing to families of dead veterans cause the BA DIC offsets the retirement annuity. VA DIC is a fraction of the benefit the family received before they convinced the veteran to kill themself. If the VA, DOD and DFAS weren’t motivated to maintain the suicide rate of Veterans they’d just do their jobs and provide the benefits the veterans are entitled to without making blatantly obvious efforts to destroy the life and family of the veterans they’re supposed to be serving.

    DFAS literally stole a full year of retired pay from my family and refers me to the suicide hotline when I tell them I want my retirement pay.

    The VA issued two separate decisions on the same claim submitted by the Army and each decision carries a different effective date. Instead of a simple correction I had to submit a formal appeal and wait years upon years for them to even look at it.

    A VA Dr. diagnosed me with TBI and when asked by the BVA he sent them a letter and confirmed that it was Service connected and the VA denied the condition saying “No diagnosis of TBI exists in my record”

    The VA reduced my rating on my back multiple times in spite of the fact that EVERY SINGLE neurological appointment I’ve had over the same two year period stressed that my back was getting significantly worse.

    The VA has tried treating my IBS since 2012 and it’s documented in my military medical records since my first deployment in 2006 and it wasn’t until I found the presumptive condition and pointed it out to them that they finally awarded the condition in 2018.

    I first presented my conditions and symptoms to the VA in 2006 and the VA DR literally open mouth laughed in my face. I then deployed two additional times thinking that would kill me and it didn’t so I hid from the world until 2012 when I moved to Montana and people there helped me every step of the way to make sure I got some of the treatment I needed.

    My civilian employer had sent letters to the VA asking them to continue my treatment stating that when I was getting my treatment I was an asset to their company and when I was not getting treatment for my conditions I was a liability and they could not have me around.

    In Jan 2018 the VA cut off my weekly mental health appointments and severed most of my other treatments as well. In April 2018 my civilian employer terminated my employment and said of my conditions get better I might be able to come back. I have sat in my garage ever since just waiting to die.

    These are most accidents and they are not isolated events limited to my personal experience. This is standard operating procedure for the VA, DOD and DFAS.

    Believe me when I say, DFAS, VA and DOD LOVE DEAD VETERANS…. They need Veterans to kill themselves so badly they don’t even make a feeble effort to hide the tactics they use to push Veterans to kill themselves.

  2. James Ford July 10, 2019 at 23:01

    IMO, the providers and staff are focused on appearances rather than effectively reaching most industry medical goals, to include this one. VA Transition Assistance folks, old vet volunteers, and Suicide Prevention number is where it’s at. The very goal is nonsensical and clearly shows it’s disregard for understanding…
    Most DoD med troops are shunned by ops or mission oriented career fields, due to their clear misunderstanding as to what it means to be in the military; in-field docs, combat medics, JPs, Medevacs, and frontline trauma centers excluded. Firstline supervisors are the most effective means to impact. However, you grow up in a world of suck it up, so they reenforce the suck it up. Those who see the doc get their statuses pulled from monitoring programs. Everyone knows that going to the doc pulls you off status. This reminds you of the very real risk to your career/promotion, which may halt/end it and will get you disarmed. Culturely, we would openly show disgust for those who dropped status.
    What makes anyone think the DoD med. core or VHA, who can barely speak the same language and can’t relate, that they can chisel away when the wall/fear is so resolute? It is easier to tape up a broken hand, finger, or foot, sweat through a fever, take an OTC vitamin M or even do other things than deal with their crap. It is a BURDEN to speak to providers/staff, VA or DoD.
    IMO transtioning out of the military is a critical time to make contact for suicide prevention of vets. In short, transitioning is just not fun. Transitioning from the military culture is like trading one pain for another. One may spend 6 months to 2 years to get trained in their career fields; but, one may get 4 or 5 days of training how to be a civilian in normal society. The VA Transitioning Assistance folks can provide those life lines to vets.
    Fun fact, most VA Transisions Assistance folks are prohibited, by law, from going to military Transisions Assistance Programs. My TA program told me to go online or to just show up at a VA. I retired and showed, with my 214, to my local VA and told sorry but we can’t help you. I wondered around and after finding an old volunteer, he brought me to a DAV office. They should hire the old volunteer vet! It took a 5 month claim, then another three years later for me to see a VA Transisions Assistance Counselor. Oh, at another VISN +1000 miles away, in another state. I can’t be the only one. With this example what makes them remotely prepared to even approach such a goal?

    The providers and staff can’t relate to the patient population. The patient population was groomed to suck it up. The best thing going for them is old volunteers, the TA folks and that Vet Crisis number.

  3. William Nosek (ORDM) July 10, 2019 at 20:49

    Let me start by saying that I am not a clinician. I am a minister that does suicide prevention and crisis intervention for veterans. I am also a veteran who has severe PTSD, and someone who has met the definition of suicidal every day for more than a decade. I have also, in that time done endless research and gotten tremendous amounts of education on these issues alone. Both from the clinical, and veteran sides.

    On August 14th of this year I will be at 1,000 days since the last person that reached out to me for help ended up taking their own life.

    Since 2015 I have been telling the VA as well as clinicians how I manage, and how I help others so that they can mange to survive. But nobody wants to hear it because I am not a clinician. I am immediately discounted. Even in spite of the fact that I am the one that wrote the treatment and facility changes implemented by (and erroneously taken credit for) by James D. McLain. I am the only one that knows where the shortfalls are in those programming changes, in spite of the fact that they were mimicked by facilities across the nation due to only partial implementation. And I am one of only 3 outside the VA that knows that these updates were the result of the inpatient suicide of Cole Scheuler at the facility Mr. McLain was acting director of. I’m sure if you look into it you will see that I was there and saw it first hand.

    I am currently sitting on a 20 page start as to why veterans are taking their lives and what can be done to stop it. And being the only one in the country with a 0% suicide rate since 2016, I think I might have useful information. But it remains to be seen if there is any truth to the idea that it’s better to bury us than care for us. After all, some of the greatest breakthroughs in history came from the most unlikely of sources. Feel free to reach out to me………

    • Val McLeod July 16, 2019 at 11:57

      Mr. Nosek, Thank you for your sacrifice and continued service. We are very interested in your valuable contribution to this critically important matter. Please connect with us: (redacted) Looking forward to hearing from you. #NowWeSeeYou #VetsLivesMatterNow

      • William Nosek (ORDM) July 16, 2019 at 15:23

        Ma’am, I sent you an Email. Thank you. God Bless.

  4. Sharon Lynn July 10, 2019 at 20:14

    Does anyone from the VA even read these comments?

    My fiancé had a dirty urine from a pill that is prescribed to him by the VA. He is on a program and they kicked him off, just like that and now he is withdrawing and dealing with all the pain in his body with zero help. He has done so much better on the program for years. They don’t care if he kills himself, they don’t care about the veterans. I love him and I don’t want to see him in this desperate state of depression. This is how you treat your soldiers, that is just not fair to them.

  5. Darren Osborn June 28, 2019 at 16:26

    I think this is a big joke. I have PTSD and was being seen by the VA for 3 suicide attemps. They told me I make too much money and can’t see the Psych doctor from the VA. I think this is the exact thing President Trump is trying to help us get help for these issues????

  6. Terry L Nichols June 28, 2019 at 06:34

    Repetitive Behavior Cellular Regression® (RBCR) is a non-linear Q&A sequencing model that bypasses normal memory recall and helps the client find an amnesic type memory in early childhood that controls repetitive thought. All five senses are used to describe three memories without the story or history of the memory being told. The result is the client finds the lost memory and is able to neutralize the emotions tied to the memory and thus shutting off all other emotional memories repetitive effects.
    Evolutionary Healer LLC owns the RBCR and is a SDVOSB VIP CVE company.
    Thank you.

  7. Allen L Walker June 24, 2019 at 18:21

    Maybe stop taking what little money we have coming to us for BS reasons. You took my $262 monthly check from me for the last 2 years to repay separation pay from 1989 knowing I am unable to work. I finally get a tax return and you took another $800 from me for medicines knowing I live well below poverty . Thanks for all your improvements and false advertising.

  8. Emery W Tolbert June 24, 2019 at 12:00

    This and and all the other formats like it is a joke just to make it appear as if they really care, if anyone thinks the VA cares what we write and are going to consider anything we say as anything but trash from a bunch of disgruntled VETERANS then you are way too nieve. I have WRITTEN 2 letters to the President in two years and no replies to neither of them. I wrote one to the IGO about three weeks ago and am looking forward to a reply from them as they seam to be independent from all the political parties and more in line with we the people and the trut, the well being of the VET’s. I have suffered from many different issues at the Gainesville Hospital so that may be the reason Trump don’t want to get involved, just to many issues and time consuming to spend on one second class Veteran, non-service connected, just one vote, just one. member of we the. people.

  9. Bucky Allen June 24, 2019 at 10:58

    How about you start recognizing service dogs! My service dog has helped me 100 times more than all the medications the VA had given me. On my last appointment my physicist walked in seen my dog and was pissed went on a rant said he didn’t believe in service dogs but upped my meds before even taking to me

  10. Melissa Bobbitt June 24, 2019 at 06:34

    Walk-in Facilities open 24/7 for immediate access without going thru the appointment process, Manned with sufficient staff to greet, personally talk to each vet via person or phone, follow up calls and open line access. Staff trained specifically for the vets needs, making them feel wanted instead of a burden to the system, etc. Over medicating only adds to their issues.

  11. P. Miller June 23, 2019 at 22:50

    Veteran Suicide, Truly a subject near and dear to my heart! I am a 20 yr Navy, Hospital Corpsman, Disabled Vet. I retired 2004 in total denial of my disabilities. Our VA providers are tired of us. I have yet to meet a Va provider who has Greeted me and made me feel welcome as if they are concerned and can relate to what I am going through. At retirement I was put at 70%. I had no Idea what that meant or how I got there. Over the years My disabilities began to catch up with me. Sever fatigue, Sleep Apnea, fear,, Anxiety, depression, sever ear ringing with static sounds and in and out hearing. pulling on left side of face, sever joint pain, stiffness, pain all over, locking up of ankle and knees, continued migraines, sever finger, hand and wrist pain. Noticed by a VA rep in a military hospital. Was told I need to refile my Claim with VA. I was working but not really functioning fully. Daily I would close my office door to lie on the floor and relive my anxiety and pain in back, hips, legs, arms, neck and head.
    Finally, unable to work for about 3 weeks, I went in to get help and refile my claim. One of my first appointments was with a Foot Doctor at the Va who showed me very clearly that the mere site of me DISCUSSED him. I left that office in tears and I let him know how I felt. His Nurse defended him and told me that that was just him and he meant no harm. AS A VETERAN, I DESERVE BETTER. He treated me as if I was scum off the street and I was wasting his time, My other appointments did not go any better . These providers were discussed with the likes of me. I know there are fakes out there but those of us who are not. I began to just get tired. My claim took about two years. I remember going to bed dreading the next appointment and praying for the Lord to just let me go. I couldn’t take my life because of my son. He had been through so much. So I begged God to just have some mercy and just take me, I was just so tired. Each morning he continued to wake me up and I was in so much pain.
    We need providers that ACTUALLY care about us. Now 2019 and I am still fighting my claim. I am so tired. I have been on numerous VA appointments. I can say that maybe TWO have asked me if I am SUISIDUAL. I read my records on line after my appointments and you would not believe ALL the things they say they did, when in all actuality they never even looked at me. The providers are there collecting a paycheck but they don’t really care about the Veteran in front of them. I resubmitted my claim in 2013. in 2015 they put me at 100% Temporary. Now only seeing Civilian provider because I dont trust the VA. I submit all paperwork to VA. in 2013 at age 47 I was 100% Temp……..Now 2019 at age 53, per the VA I am getting better so I am now 90%. I take a hand full of meds 2 times a day. I no longer drive myself because I am druged up and my finger, Hands and Wrist are extremely painful. Typing this right now has been about 1 hr 15 mins. But the VA says I am better, I have had a Knee replacement on the Knee that the VA told me there was nothing wrong.
    I at times have a glass of wine or something stronger with my meds to help me sleep and relax. I constantly have ringing, static, drainage and itching in my ears. Have you ever just wanted quiet, It never quiet, But the VA says I am getting better. Yea, if I could just lay my head down and not wake up, that WOULD BE wonderful. Right now I can’t do it but one day I hope I will be able to convince myself to do it. I am just so Tired.
    FIND US SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY CARES and then find more of them. Hold them accountable, constantly review records. Contract with Civilian. You just have to care! I know my pain is here to stay, so listen to me and HELP me!

  12. Ronald E Rytter June 23, 2019 at 22:08

    Being homeless, hungry and ill from what the veteran considers to have happened on active duty, whether it be physical or mental is the recipe for a veteran committing suicide. The claim procedure must be improved, I have claims going on 4 years and presently with 110,000 cases ahead of me to have claim reviewed by a judge, makes the words deny, deny and die are all to real.

  13. Doug Boyer June 23, 2019 at 21:47

    My girlfriend, who served this country in the Air Force for six years of her life recently lost hers. And I am absolutely sure that her PTSD had a major factor in her leaving me. You want to know how to stop veteran suicide? Stop treating the veterans like they are irrelevant, and start putting every effort into helping them. PTSD is not a permanent disability like you claim it is, it is something that with therapy, and not DRUGS can be treated. If veterans come to you, they need help right away, not months down the road when it might be too late. Too me it is truly appalling how much the VA doesn’t take care of our Veterans. And I can guarantee that if the VA gave her the help when she needed it I’d still be holding her in my arms today.

  14. Charles June 23, 2019 at 21:16

    You are right. As a clinician, I have been told by clients that they feel way more relaxed and able to open up about their experiences and struggles. I do know from the research, that almost 70% of those experiencing PTSD, have had a traumatic event earlier in their life. This is where I start… just saying that all these under experienced clinicians they higher fresh out of school, is a waste of time and money. I am a retired soldier and proud to work with my brothers and sisters in my community, but the nearest VA in 2 hours away. I cant even get an interview…..

  15. FREDDIE JOLE CALLOWAY June 23, 2019 at 21:04

    AGREED I’ve been fighting for 48 years and I was in for 33 years and it’s no better. And kid we are not weak matter of FACT I doubt if your even a Vet maybe a wantabe that’s all

  16. John Hoelzer June 23, 2019 at 17:41

    One huge thing to help fight the 22 a Day is to recognize that the use of a service dog thru cooperative training saves lives. Recognize and accept ADA guidelines. Pay for insurance and equipment for our service dogs.

  17. Martin Findley June 23, 2019 at 17:14

    Not reading all the other replies… sorry, just not in the mood. BUT, I will input my 2 cents worth as a disabled veteran. How about treating the problems veterans have, not the symptoms. If we are in pain, fix the issue causing the pain, not just over the counter pain meds. AND if the issue causing the pain can’t be fixed, how about giving us pain relievers that work, not tylenol. When a veteran states he started drinking again to help alleviate the problems with the pain since you took him/her off their meds because the rest of the world is abusing opioids, hear what we say! OH, and the most important one, CARE, how about some real empathy not this fake sh*t I hear all the time.

    And the civilians that say “Thank you for your service” to us veterans and don’t mean it, STOP saying it! sheesh!

  18. Gabriel Trent June 22, 2019 at 20:53

    Not giving veterans such a hard time with benefit compensation. So many veterans barely making ends meat and in constant pain. This does not help! Want to stop crisis fix your benefit compensation system along with various health care related issues.

  19. Emery W Tolbert June 22, 2019 at 11:38

    Read my latest post and I will say that after I wrote thee first letter to Trump the good old boy click in the Gainesville VA ttblhospital has done every thiaang they can do tos hurt me physically until I just refuse to allow them t o do any procedues in hospital and it is impossible deal with the Community Health care syste. They changed from physically to financially through billing as the woman in billing had to be part of the good old boy click, she either lost or threww 2 complete sets of paper work in the garbage which made my 3 red set of paper work get to Orlando to late to prevent what they said I owed in back copays from honing into collections at the Department Of The Treasury and the Department Of TREASURY said once they get the charges there is nothing that can be about it and because I am non-service a second class Veteran I can not even fill a hardship requests. Just remember unless you go along like a lamb to the slaughter they will make your life miserable. The Lord did not make me like that, I can not just go along and to get along, if I see a wrong or am being treated wrong I have to speak my mind and it gets me in a lot of trouble at times but I sleep well at night.I get into trouble for standing up for other Veterans when the issue does not help me if I can get something done. MAY GOD BLESS ALL VETERANS

  20. Timothy June 21, 2019 at 20:16

    Stop hiding our Military Records at the VA ST Louis Records Mismanagement Center Stupidvisor Brian Greene. I ain’t Mr Winter’s Niger guy. I ain’t prejudice. Stupidvisor Brian Greene sent me hundreds of documents one had his name on it. Mr Brian Greene was a medic in S. Korea 1990. 1/4th field artillery. My document was signed by him. The document read Treatment Failed. Cellulitis. Dated 1990. V. A. St Louis Records continues to illegally hide our records. One O. E. F. I. EF. Veteran on a web site was told that his military Record burned up in the great fire. W. T. F.

  21. Timothy June 21, 2019 at 19:58

    V. a Record mismanagement cent bosses like MR. Brian Greene continue to destroy and hide records of veterans they don’t like. I have evidence but no one does a damn thing

  22. Frank M. June 21, 2019 at 18:17

    Victor, I agree with you. Kevin must have been one of the extremely lucky ones that got good treatment and ratings. I have been battling the VA since I retired in 1999. The issue lies with the VA leadership. Most of the doctors, technicians and nurses that I have encountered have been good to me. Even the doctors that have evaluated me during ratings appointments have indicated that I would not have a problem with the rating or increase. Once the higher brass gets the notes they come up with reasons NOT to give you an increase or give you compensation. This seems to be more with the older vets (Vietnam) than newer vets. My uncle is a Vietnam vet and he walked though agent orange foliage in the mid 1960s and in now suffering from skin and diseases and all the VA tells him that it is probably a rash but refuse to send him to agent orange experts. The VA is an organization not to be trusted. It is like fighting the enemy again.

  23. DR JACK TAYLOR June 21, 2019 at 16:34

    SOMEONE IN AUTHORITY GIVE ME A CALL. MY IDEA SEEMS TO BE CATCHING ON AND MY DESIRE IS TO KEEP THE BALL ROLLING, NETWORKING. THE VA WANTS TO REDUCE TWO THINGS, “OPIOID DEPENDENCE,” AND “SUICIDE.” THERE IS A WAY TO DO THAT, SO CALL ME AND GET ON BOARD.
    DR JACK TAYLOR

  24. Ron Roden June 21, 2019 at 13:28

    I have an idea, spend more than 1% of the suicide prevention budget. Eleven months into FY2018, the VA only spent $57,000 of the $6.2 million allotted for suicide prevention. I would call that not even trying. https://time.com/5483823/veterans-affairs-suicide-prevention/

    • Petty Officer Honse June 21, 2019 at 20:24

      Couldn’t agree more!

  25. Victor Sellers June 21, 2019 at 13:25

    Robert Elesky,
    You are right, but the VA already knows what you are saying, and has always known. VA Departments are not allowed to share information or communicate on your behalf. Only certain level authorities have that power and they will not share it, even in matters of life and death. Mitzie Marsh in St. Louis has no idea what I went through when I filed claims for the Tropical Diseases I had in Vietnam, the Agent Orange Ingestion in Bien Hoa and deeper in S. Vietnam, the parasitic diseases from the Mekong Delta, the malaria’s damage, the young doctors lack of ability or experience. The lack of communication is the main problem, and after getting the same answers that never answer anything, it’s time to end it all. The VA itself is the trigger, and it does not care. They do not keep promises. They break hearts, hide the evidence, ignore the truth, refuse the service connection they promised when we entered, and we are fools to believe that will change. At every level we are deceived and they do it intentionally. You nailed it. Management does not care, only the workers.

  26. Dwayne E Glanton June 21, 2019 at 13:04

    Robert Elesky is correct. Many times when I call for an appointment to visit a new doctor the appointment is made 30 days after the call. Nearly ALWAYS.

  27. Myron D Hutson June 21, 2019 at 13:01

    I am viet nam war vet who works for homeless vets (see msbos.org about gov council) and returning vets from their war. The biggest complaint is VA “teachers” have no military experience AND WILL NOT allow those in “class” to discuss their experiences in “class”. My problems were mostly helped when I talked privately with another viet nam vet when we both were attending Grad Univ and completed our Biochemistry M.S. Suggest VA use experienced educated Vets for “teachers”.

    • john vanminos June 23, 2019 at 18:04

      My appointments to see a Doctor are 6 months. I’ve had one NP tell that knows more than any Doctor, even A NEUROSURGEON LIKE MY PERSONAL DR. I TOLD HE WAS AN IDIOT AND TOLD HIM MY WIFE IS A DOCTOR, WALKED OUT. MADE COMLAINT. NEXT ONEWAS AN ORIENTAL DR. THAT COULD NOT SPEAK ENGLISH, SHE WAS GONE A WEEK LATER. MY LAST ONE WAS A REAL ORIENTAL DOCTOR WHO SPOKE PERFECT ENGLISH.THE ONLY THING HE PRACTICED WAS, THAT HE WAS A ASSISTANT TO A DENTIST.. WTF. GOOD THING MY WIFE IS A DOCTOR AND CALMED ME DOWN.

  28. Chandra Das June 21, 2019 at 11:47

    Streamlining the disability compensation process would help. Many veterans take their lives before finishing the long process of application, rejection, appeal, years later Board with fair hearing. The so-called RAMP innovations are a joke.

  29. Kevin Ronin June 21, 2019 at 11:44

    Suicide is a human condition. The vet suicide rate closely follows our civilian counterparts.

    Most vet suicides are seniors, just as it is in the civilian population. The older the vet or civilian demographic, the higher the suicide rate.

    There is no “22 a day epidemic” once that number is put in perspective. How many vets are there? -Twenty million?

    Is suicide the act of an irrational mind? Is it the act of a healthy mind? It can be either.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/12/us/with-suicide-an-admiral-keeps-command-until-the-end.html?mtrref=www.google.com&gwh=A6E4CE06D4125640135196789BAB1714&gwt=pay

    • Ron Roden June 21, 2019 at 13:45

      “Is suicide the act of an irrational mind? Is it the act of a healthy mind? It can be either.”

      I’m not exactly sure if you’ve ever been suicidal before, but in order to commit the act of suicide, you not only want to commit suicide but you also need to overcome the human natural instinct for survival. That would be totally impossible with a healthy mind.

    • Don Vance July 1, 2019 at 22:19

      Kevin, I don’t know what lies you’ve been reading but the veteran suicide rate is double the civilian rate. You really should look at the rates of suicide not the number. The 22 a day is a false number anyway because it doesn’t include the veteran suicides in California, Texas, and Florida which have the largest veteran population.

  30. Robert Elesky June 21, 2019 at 10:13

    I can tell you how to fix it. Quit screwing with us at every level when we reach out for help. The VA screws vets around so bad that if I told you everything I had to endure with them you’re head would explode. One time I had to wait in the lobby in severe pain for nearly eight hours to get any pain meds. True story

    Your verification of 17x 16 is a classic example!!!!

    • Kevin Ronin June 21, 2019 at 11:51

      Oh, maaaan… What a drama queen. Stop whining and being so weak. In the whole scheme of things, you’re in the minority.

      Most vets are very grateful for the work of the VA from medical care, to to enrolling in colleges and universities, to vocational rehab. The VA also leads the world in areas such as prosthesis developments.

      You couldn’t even handle the verification thing here. It makes me wonder if you and I have the same definition of “pain”.

      • Victor Sellers June 21, 2019 at 13:50

        Kevin, you seem so judgmental for not knowing the man, or do you? You don’t know me I am sure, and I don’t know you, but when a vet reaches out for help it should be taken as serious as possible. I spent a month hospitalized in Vietnam, continued to deteriorate all the rest of my time after Vietnam with various blood diseases, heart problems, strokes, brain damage with lesions, abdominal tumors, parasites in the eyes and probably brain, had my immune system compromised, skin diseased with multiple cancers developing, liver abnormalities and pain, urinating blood in Vietnam and afterwards developing ED with enlarged prostate, and on and on. The Army found the organisms in my lungs but left it all with “undetermined organisms “ and no treatment. It has withheld my medical records to this day still, but did give me some of them in 2015, 44 years after fighting to get them. I was medivac’d out of Vietnam in 1971 and the VA refused service connection all my adult life, until 2015, and still refuse to hand over remaining medical records. Screwed with at every level is right for many. For others it’s thrown at them. A double standard is true.

    • James D Roger's (Retired CSM) June 21, 2019 at 13:48

      I agree with what you are saying. It is the VA admin that is creating the problem. I have had some issues with this. The veterans need to be treated as they are someone instead of being talked down on.

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