This August 26–29, nearly 2,000 VA and DoD care teams, leaders, allies and subject matter experts from across the country will convene at the 2019 VA/DoD Suicide Prevention Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Since its inception in 2004, this annual conference has been an important forum for sharing best practices, key research findings and policy updates in the suicide prevention field. It is a crucial extension of the shared VA and DoD mission to prevent suicide among all service members and Veterans.

“We are looking forward to our continued partnership with the DoD at the 2019 VA/DoD Suicide Prevention Conference,” said Dr. Keita Franklin, Executive Director, Suicide Prevention, in VA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. “The conference represents a knowledge exchange that will enhance the support we provide to Service members and Veterans.”

This year’s conference theme is “Many Roles. One Mission.,” which emphasizes that everyone has a role to play in preventing suicide among Service members and Veterans. Guided by the National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide and the Department of Defense Strategy for Suicide Prevention, attendees of the VA/DoD Suicide Prevention Conference will continue to build on the public health strategies that VA and the DoD apply at the facility, community and state levels.

The conference will enable attendees to: 

  • Better understand the elements of the public health approach to suicide prevention.
  • Define their roles within the public health approach to suicide prevention.
  • Identify opportunities to adopt and improve public health suicide prevention strategies, including prevention, intervention and postvention efforts designed for service members, Veterans and their communities.
  • Develop a custom suicide prevention action plan that leverages local, state, national and international partnerships to optimize surveillance, outreach, intervention and training efforts.
  • Summarize measurable outcomes associated with their suicide prevention action plan.
  • Build cooperative opportunities within and between VA, DoD, and the community.

VA employee participation in the 2019 VA/DoD Suicide Prevention Conference must be approved by supervisors. Employees who have obtained approval to attend the conference will receive a registration invitation with instructions for next steps starting the week of June 10.

To learn more about the efforts of VA’s Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, visit https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention.

The health and well-being of our nation’s Veterans and former service members is VA’s highest priority. Guided by data and research, VA is working with partners, Veterans’ family members and friends and the community to ensure that Veterans and former service members get the right care whenever they need it. To learn about the resources available for Veterans and how you can #BeThere for a Veteran as a VA employee, family member, friend, community partner or clinician, visit www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/resources.asp.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive free, confidential support and crisis intervention, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, text to 838255 or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.


Wendy Lakso is the acting deputy suicide prevention program director, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

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55 Comments

  1. Timothy r Justice , US ARMY VETERAN SINCE 1985 August 2, 2019 at 22:31

    Va’s new approach should be more about helping us veterans in severe need with ptsd problems due to mst & not more red tape or denied claims from raters not taking the required time to read all evidence in full to support a veterans claim & try doing their job correctly!!! This veteran is a human being & not just a social security number in ur computer!!! My brutal rape incident while I was in the service ruined the past 30 yrs of my life & when I finally filed my compensation claim last yr , I have to continuously relive this crap to satisfy the va only to get denied over & over !!! So let me let u higher ups in on a little secret , no veteran who has thought long & hard about suicide is gonna call ur stupid crisis line !! So if u want the hard truth & really wanna help us veterans , then get ahold of me & I will tell it like it is truthfully & I will not blow smoke up ur tail . Otherwise continue doing nothing & wasting more money on bull shit !!

  2. John Wooley August 1, 2019 at 09:35

    I am project manager for USA Today’s Veteran Affairs Magazine. In the upcoming edition we are raising awareness on Veteran Suicides, treatment and prevention, etc..Send me an email address or call for details. This is distributed (print and digital) though the VA and DoD sytems. COMPLIMENTARY to all recipients.

    Here’s a link to last years edition

    http://ee.usatoday.com/eMag/?href=USAM%2F2018%2F11%2F06&olv-cache-ver=20181018024022

    John Wooley
    Advertising Sales Director
    Special Editions Publishing

  3. Charles G. Shaver July 24, 2019 at 11:59

    First identified by Dr. Arthur F. Coca in the 1930s, there’s a kind of practically harmless ambiguous, brief and very, very mild individual allergy reaction that can be turned chronic and deadly dangerous short to long-term in a few simple ways. I only gradually, intermittently discovered them for myself during decades of chronic mild illness after becoming mysteriously seriously ill (e.g., fatigue, generalized discomforts and mood swings) in, and after (prematurely discharged from) the Navy in 1964. Unfortunately, mainstream medicine has yet to define, recognize and/or research Dr. Coca’s (my) kind of allergies as true allergies. More unfortunately, by 1980 the primary reason for my kind of allergies becoming chronic and potentially deadly dangerous was U.S. FDA approved food poisoning (e.g., added monosodium glutamate [MSG] and modified soy protein [a rather common allergen high in phytoestrogen and processed with toxic hexane, with some residue said to be ‘safe’ by the FDA], minimally, others). Finally learning of my allergies in late 1981 but not of the added MSG factor until the summer of 2000, or the trouble with soy until about 2012, I learned on my own in 2010 that my kind of allergies could cause a kind of acidosis which can deny and/or rob the bones, nerves and/or teeth of essential minerals (primarily calcium and magnesium) to maintain the blood at an optimal pH. In his book for lay readers, THE PULSE TEST (1956; now available free online in PDF format), Dr. Coca describes how to diagnose your own allergies at home and, after failed skin patch/scratch testing in 1973 and failed R.A.S.T. IgE antibody allergy testing in 2009, I can add to that pH testing of one’s saliva or urine may indicate-for the acidosis no doctor ever told me about. Elder tooth loss and osteoporosis may ultimately prove to be the gold standards for proving those allergy related mineral (minimally) losses and mere dosing with good quality, quantity and ratio of OTC calcium and magnesium (and vitamin D3) may help restore good bones, moods and sleep, minimally. I first wrote the FDA (with replies) of my early findings of connections between allergies, added MSG, chronic disease and the then recently announced ‘obesity epidemic’ in October of 2005, obviously in-vain, hundreds of others since (including the VA) with similar results. So, even the best civilian/VA medical care is seriously flawed and accounts, I believe, for most U.S. deaths from all causes in 2019 (e.g., suicides), both civilian and military.

  4. Lyle Monson Sr July 21, 2019 at 19:27

    VA PHOENIX AZ I concur with many of the statements made by the previous respondents. Spend the money on the sick. Could we not save $ by having tele conferences. Everyone could stay where they live/work and participate by computer or smart phone, etc. My experience has been you have to be your own advocate. When I first came to the VA. I could not walk. My primary care Dr. Sagady disgnosed my problems and sent me to so many clinics. I was fitted with braces and a shoe lift. MHC the physchiatrist and physclogist that worked with me were able to stabalize me through group therapy and medication. My in large my primary care Drs have been excellent. Over the past 20+ years with VA I have received outstanding care ( 3 primary care Drs. Their names 1. Dr Sagady (retired) & 2. Dr Bardwell, 3. Dr Ramish. In the clinics Dr Laman-Dermatology and Dr. Zaza in physical medicine(?)and Dr Pathan in Mental Health. To a large degree these physcians have been outsanding in their service to veterans. I have only mentioned a few of the outstanding VA Drs and staff that strive to a good job for tje Veterans. I beleive to a large degree there are many VETS that do not speak up and be an advocate for themselves. I have been a patient at the Phoenix VA since the 90’s and have had very little problems. What we as Veterans have to realize is that some of our treatmemts take a long time to detect and then schedule due to a lack of skilled Drs. in certain areas. The Choice program was used for me in the areas of optometry eye exam & cataracts; neurology-spinal column release and fusion of my spine. Yes I have had some problems but the good far outweighs them.

  5. Val Johnson July 15, 2019 at 13:57

    I am a Licenseed Clinical Social Worker working with clients in the probation and parole sector in Utah. I am also a 90% disabled, Purple Heart veteran. Can I get more information on attending this conference? do you have scholarships available. How can I help veterans in southern Utah?

  6. Stacey Pointer July 15, 2019 at 10:08

    Can civilians attend this conference? I’m an exwife of a disabled army veteran who still advocates for him thru his PTSD struggles. I would love to go to this!

  7. Mike Carlson July 14, 2019 at 17:23

    What an absolute joke. The Department of Veterans Affairs has had decades to fix the medical services, claims, pensions, plenty of time to study and observe mental health. The Current VA system is causing more and more homelessness and suicide when Veterans have nowhere but a hotline, phone number or an overworked non-veteran health worker or worse a rude (which is most common) health care professional, administrator, patient advocate or claims rep. There is NO ACCOUNTABILITY in the current or past system of care and claims. There is no way for a veteran to know where they are in the system but every time are told to be patient and wait like everyone else. Bad news, many aren’t waiting they are committing suicide. What other option do they have?
    No… Please don’t think a survey or a hotline will do any good.
    STOP making excuses, there should be no issues like these in modern-day.
    The answer is not to hire more at the top level. They have only fallen behind the more they hire.
    The fake accounting of claims being handled is treason at best, claims moved from one step to the next is what you are counting, not closed and settled files.
    There is NO HOMELESS HELP OR SUPPORT HERE IN LAS VEGAS, {there is currently a 4-year wait for housing) and the State pays for totally incompetent VSO reps to handle disability claims, my claims have been pushed off for over 25 years. I have been to (DAV, VFW, American Legion #toobigtocare) and a number of other organizations that could not handle the (fraudulent-Title 38) claim process that exists. People need to be in prison for treating veterans like this.
    Congress has the power to fix all these things, they seem dysfunctional at best, other than hearings that uncovered the fact the Dept of VA destroys, shreds, falsifies documents at will. If congress wants I will show them step by step how to fix these things, I have had 25 years to discover all the many flaws and have absolute cures for the system. I am sure my writing will not even see the light of day in their eyes, well then they need to be prosecuted for crimes against humanity on another level. Where in the world is waiting 2 years let alone 25 years acceptable in any service, especially to a veteran who has given their all for this country and has to live with this much pain and suffering?

  8. Paul Mullis July 13, 2019 at 21:59

    I was wounded numerous times and kept going back. I received good care from the VA and Counselor ‘s until my service Connected Dental was needed. I was butchered by an intern and was allowed after I complained to receive local care for my dental surgery. I went to my dental service and payment was denied !! I called and they said I have to get it done by the VA 2 1/2 hrs away again. So now it’s been three years without any teeth and grinding up my food, embarrassed about my public appearance, so I hide inside my house and trust me things race thru my mind of all the dead and wounded soldiers I worked on as a combat medic. Enough said- but when the VA denies local care after they allowed you to be butchered and you haven’t the money to pay the thousands needed for surgeries and then dentures, your mind goes to some dark places !

  9. Shane Vincent July 13, 2019 at 20:01

    My name is Shane Vincent, I am a purple heart recipient in OIF 2007. I was severely injured and told I might be a quadriplegic from my C2 being broke in my neck but for sure a paraplegic from my L2 vertebrae being burst, 2 rods 12 screws holding it together, I had over 150 breaks and fractures in my hips and pelvis, internal fixater in my hips and a plate with 4 screws in front of my pelvis, broke my scapula, jaw, sinus cavity, broken teeth, TBI and had my stomach opened up with a wound vac to allow more room from my insides being swollen from the IED blast, cant feel my right leg from bone fragments from my L2 vertebrae pushing on nerves that go down my leg. I was in a medically induced coma for three weeks and in the hospital for almost eleven months, my life changed drastically. I was sent home 100% disabled from the military, retired, receiving social security and my wife was receiving caregiver support. I was 22 years old and that was my life. I have always been in good shape, use to race BMX bikes professionally for 3 years and got accepted into the WCAP program World Class Athletic Program in Ft Carson Colorado to try for the Olympics in 2008 one week after I got blown up. I have dealt with Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, TBI and every one of those lead to suicide. I started working out again even after the doctors told me I would not be able to anymore due to my injuries, they said my body was not the same as it use to be. Thanks to my fitness certification I got when I was 18 I had an idea of what to do and all of the therapy I have been through over the years. I have to do things with perfect form or I will hurt and be out even longer which just leads to more depression. The muscle now is what holds my body in place and allows me to move with less pain taking the pain off of my joints and bones (hardware). I have tried to help cover up and cope in other ways, narcotics, drinking, strip clubs, etc and it just created more problems. I have been to retreats and different programs and they have been good while I am there but when I get back home, its back to the same thing. I am very passionate about helping our vets in suicide prevention. I opened up a gym with a physical therapist called Beyond The Gym on May 18th 2019. I took a second mortgage out on my house to do so, I don’t receive social security anymore or my wife caregiver support, this is what I want to do. I want to have something locally for our veterans that they can come to at anytime they are suffering and push out what they are dealing with in a positive way. Pushing out that traumatic experience that we are holding in our bodies, that’s what helped me. I had that instant escape instead of having to talk to a suicide hotline with someone that has no idea what I am going through, or sign up for some retreat, or go to a PTSD getaway that you have to wait for. We just got our nonprofit organization United Fitness Recovery Association and we are looking to provide free memberships, personal training and physical therapy for those veterans that need it most. I always hear of all the help and support that is out there for veterans but never seemed to get the help I was looking for, so I am taking it upon myself to to partner with a Physical Therapist with similar vision to my own to offer something locally that Veterans can go to every day.
    If you know of anyone that can help with grants in order to provide these services for vets I would be GREATLY appreciated. Gobeyondthegym.com Shane Vincent, United Fitness Recovery Association

  10. C Harrison July 12, 2019 at 08:50

    From my dealing with the VA over a mental health issue, this is a joke. I went to see a doctor for a separate issue and he noted I have mild depression. I have now been refereed to several doctors and all of them have agreed, but do nothing. They want to start medication, but they have to go through my primary care doctor, who is ignoring me and by requests for help. In the past year that I have been working to get help the depression has gotten worse. I went to the walk-in mental health department at my local VA clinic, as suggested by one of my mental health doctors. There they just told me I needed to go see my primary care doctor. In other words, right back to where I started. Mine is a simple problem, but no one at the VA is taking this seriously. How can you expect people who don’t really care to help people with more serious life and death issues? If the VA won’t or is incapable of handling this problem, get these people to outside doctors who have the experience to deal with it. Not tomorrow or after you talk about it for another year or two. This has to happen YESTERDAY!

    • James O'REILLY July 18, 2019 at 08:18

      Talk about hitting the nail on the head..101per cent.

    • Timothy Feig July 27, 2019 at 13:10

      On one hand, I truly believe that veterans are uniquely qualified to help veterans. That being said, the number of actual veteran providers in the Mental Health field of the VA is less than optimal. The last time I spoke to a psychiatrist he had more questions about military service than helpful insight into my issues, since he had never served. This is also true about Emergency Department providers (RNs, Techs, PAs and MDs) who deal with veterans on a regular basis for substance abuse issues. To them, we are “frequent fliers”, or worse, “just a drunk”.
      The military taught me to use alcohol as a coping method. Anybody else recall Friday recall formations at 5pm; “Great week, guys! Go downtown, get drunk, get laid, see you Monday!”? Anyone else here recall getting marched in formation to the NCO club (at age 17) during AIT? Or to the bar owned by your 1SG on Christmas in Korea?
      What I guess I’m saying here is, we self-medicate to deal with the things we have seen and experienced. When alcohol ceases to work like we are accustomed to, some of us move on to other substances, but they are only for self-medication purposes, and much easier for us to control (since we are used to the effects) than the cloud-inducing meds we get prescribed. And when all of those stop working, or when we try to wean ourselves off of them, if counseling doesn’t help, suicide is often a viable option in our minds. I know.
      So the question is; we veterans made America our priority, maybe we didn’t die in battle, like many of our friends, but we gave up our lives just the same – we will never live like we once did, before serving – so when will we be made the priority we were promised? ‘Evidence-based Health Care’ is touted by the VA as the very best available, and in theory that would be correct. But what about when we, as veterans, are mis-diagnosed because the PCP is rushing to see all their patients? What about when our “authorization” expires and we have to wait months to be seen by a specialist outside of the VA? What about when we just get tired, and go back to the ways we have always dealt with things?
      Maybe the answer includes huge conferences. But it starts with education. Educating the providers about their patients; what they have been through from Basic Training to Discharge (and even after, when we try to re-integrate and fail), and all the ugly things in-between. Maybe then they will stop asking the generic questions; “…what is the worst thing you saw or experienced as a soldier…?”, or “…did you kill anyone or watch anyone die…what were their names?”; that cause us to re-live all the experiences that put us in the situation we are in. You are out there trying to figure out how to treat us, or deal with us, but you don’t even know us!
      We don’t think like you. We don’t react like you to “normal” situations. We never will again. From the day we set foot in a MEPS center, things have been different. What does it take to shift the mindset of a 17-year old who loves kittens and puppies and spending time with his girlfriend, into a soldier who is highly skilled and able to kill someone up close and personal with a bayonet or his bare hands – whom he does not even know – without hesitation? Or to sing songs about napalm and babies, or shooting women and children and think it is acceptable?
      When you figure out who we are, what we have been through – by our own volition – in serving our country – and you – then maybe you can understand what it takes to help us deal with our baggage. Until then, that “22 a day” won’t change. It is only by the grace of God, and controlled substances, that I have not been one of them.
      The VA is run by bureaucrats, most of which I believe would not know which end of an M-16 to put to their shoulder. As a former VA employee, I can attest to this in ALL departments, especially the ones who make decisions on a Regional level. I don’t say in an angry (although I am angry all the time) or accusatory way, only to point out you are trying to fix what you don’t even come close to understanding. Like working on a computer with a hammer and a handsaw. When you can “walk a mile in our shoes”, maybe you will understand that your current techniques will never work; blaming our issues on our childhood, getting angry with us if we do not accept your diagnoses, or worse, making notations in our CPRS that cause our next provider to question our integrity or worse.
      And to those of you who truly care, I know there are many because I have spoken with some in the worst moments, don’t give up on us. Don’t write us off as lost causes, or chronic. We don’t like waking up every morning to find all our issues still waiting for us. Or re-fighting the same battles every night. If you don’t understand us, ask. Then listen. Then listen some more. Maybe we don’t know the words to use, but we will tell you exactly what we need if you do.

  11. Jennifer Bauerle July 12, 2019 at 04:00

    Hello. Please send me the information needed and where to register. My supervisor has asked me who they need to contact. Thanks in advance.

  12. Paula Nobles July 11, 2019 at 17:14

    I’m a retired LTC Army Social Worker. A tour 15 months in Iraq. I served in a mental health capacity. Suicide prevention was among one of my many duties. I came home lost 6 very close family members. Including my mother,father, husband two uncles. My one and only Son was active full time guard. Committed suicide. I never saw it coming. I told the chaplains who did my sons military funeral. I never thought I’d be on this end of being a parent of a soldier who committed suicide. That’s what I did in the Army. I’ve certainly had my issues of gone through so much death and destruction. Depression and PTSD.
    If they’re any scholarships I’d love to be invited to the conference. I have a great interest in preventing suicide from a mother of a Solider perspective. As well as clinical aspect.
    Sincerely,

    LTC Paula Nobles
    US Army Retired
    MSC, Social Worker.
    Personal Email:
    (redacted)

  13. Robert Drolet July 11, 2019 at 13:57

    Why aren’t you inviting SAVE A WARRIOR? They won the VA BrainTrust: Pathways to InnoVAtion event at Harvard in 2017 and they’re making a huge impact in decreasing veteran suicides. This sounds a lot like a rebranding conference rather than one of best practices.

    • greg July 12, 2019 at 01:20

      I’ve learned my lesson about telling the VA about any problems, don’t do it, you will regret it. they treat people like shit, all the time and I’m tired of the poor treatment. I understand why veterans kill themselves at the VA, Obviously the VA doesn’t.

  14. Robert L. Beckman July 11, 2019 at 13:50

    Attacking the Suicide Epidemic/TBI/PTSD/PCS/Concussion using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: The essential elements of the argument. [much more at: http://www.treatnow.org ]

    DOD/VA/Military Services are experiencing epidemics of suicide; traumatic brain injuries; incidents of post-traumatic stress disorder; and deaths through substance overdose. Peer-reviewed evidence of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy’s (HBOT) safety and effectiveness urge adoption for immediate use to reverse the trends. HBOT has been proved worldwide to be safe and effective at nearly eliminating suicidal ideation and allowing brain-wounded patients to withdraw from pain and use of drugs during treatment. Neither the DOD nor the VA nor the military services have been effective in healing the wounds of brain-injured active duty and veteran service members, despite billions of dollars of research and drug-dependency. Service member suicides are increasing:
    • U.S. Special Operations suicides tripled in 2018.
    • Marine suicides reached the highest level in a decade despite the end of Large-Scale Combat Operations.
    • More than 50,000 Iraq and Afghanistan Army veterans who developed mental health conditions during their military service received other-than-honorable discharges, making them ineligible for health benefits.
    • The Veterans Administration is reported to have spent less than 10% of the monies allocated for Suicide Prevention marketing campaigns.
    • VA doctors with responsibility for brain injuries have quietly started prescribing HBOT for TBI and PTSD. There are over a dozen instances of VA facilities paying for those treatments. DOD physicians are similarly prescribing HBOT for TBI and several DOD facilities are already successfully treating TBI and PTSD using HBOT.
    • The VA has started a Pilot Demonstration to observe the use of HBOT for treating and helping heal brain wounds. The program is expanding, based on near total success with those patients already treated. Yet DoD/VA/Army medicine are not prepared to immediately intervene with the 800,000 brain wounded using rules for addressing epidemics; those rules have been invoked many times in the last decade for pandemics like Ebola and Zika. Based on evidence and success with over 6,100 successfully-treated brain injured, the private sector has the infrastructure to begin immediately treating 10,000 brain-wounded veterans, and can produce evidence of success within sixty days of beginning treatment. Unused appropriated funds are available in the Suicide Prevention Program. Additional available funds exist via budget-neutral movement of funds from the VA drug budget since patients who successfully complete HBOT treatment are known to quit using most of the prescribed drugs that do not heal the wound to the brain.

    • Jan Catinna July 11, 2019 at 21:07

      This is excellent information. Thank you for sharing it.
      PTSD Projects; A War Within

  15. Anthony Natoli July 11, 2019 at 12:16

    This announcement is a shame on so many levels.

    I just shared with the Acting Chief of Staff for the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare system that I have been fighting cancer (Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma) since 1984. In ’85 I participated in the VA’s Agent Orange Study that service connected A/O with 6 categories of diseases and maladies. In ’91 I was “Service Connected” at 100% but continued to use my outside facilities for treatment… as I was supposed to have succumbed to this disease within 6 years.

    For over 30 years I used the finest civilian facilities in this area, and possibly the nation or the world. They included a former Chief of Oncology at the VA now in private practice, Tarzana and Encino Medical Centers, USC, UCLA, labs at Bethesda Maryland Naval Hospital, and Northridge Hospital. I also utilized several different labs and imaging types and centers in the San Fernando Valley and the LA area.

    I was fortunate to have the best the private practices had to offer and because of that and God’s Grace… I’m typing this response today. Travel back and forth to these facilities was always at about 1 hour and a minimum of 30 miles one way and the visits usually consumed half a day over all.

    Saying all this, I concluded with… SInce 2001 when I relapsed, te VA has cared for my compensation, medical, psychological needs and has done it in a rather expeditious manner. In 2012 my temporary 100% Disability status was reviewed, some changes were made and upgrades addressed so that I was now “homebound” and receiving more care and compensation.

    This was all accomplished within 5 months which included an appeal and a second claim filed for 11 other conditions.

    My care continues to be timely, accurate and probably equal or better than the private sector and much more convenient to me with either less travel, or travel services provided for me.

    I’m not special, I do not have any political influences, and I only settle for the BEST. I hear many of these horror stories and I have several other Vets that will agree with everything I have written here as well.

    With the new MISSION program and CBOCs opening, accelerated hiring and increased staffing, I do see a better future as the VA does some re-engineering to better meet the needs of today’s Veterans. I am also sure there will be some bumps along the way… but the attitudes I have seen many times from those in charge lend toward a passion to make things work, and make them work better.

    Lastly, conventions and conferences can be a great resource in sharing ideas and gaining commitments and help… I just wonder why they seem to always be held at some resort like Las Vegas or Music City… It gives the appearance there will be an ample amount of “play time” as well… and this kind of undermines this very serious subject. Many of the negative comments and feelings posted above could have been avoided if it were held at let us say, a military facility with the Topics, Agenda and Goals announced as well.

    Thank you for listening,

    Tony Natoli

  16. Gary Hatley July 11, 2019 at 12:03

    My feelings about mental health and veterans suicide prevention is va has made rules that one size fits all mental health services have changed rules of medication just because of few drs that have made decisions that are not on level of veteran when you go to va the health providers that try to help you are ones that have been where you the veteran has been you dont know what that veteran needs are just by getting a degree I have begged va for certain help and did rules prevail no matter what vets needs are I feel that someday point in the future i myself am gonna loose touch with reality because va will not give me the help that works for me . Just adding on another anti depressant is only adding meds that is not awnser to the needs just because a Harvard grad has decided that. My problems can be fixed without narcotics is not awnser for all vets issues and I’m not just a doper something as simple as sleep help when i tell them what makes me function properly they say va policy wont allow us to help you because Harvard grad study said it i am gonna quit here I’m getting anxiety just talking about i cant even get the help i need even though i walked the walk i cant get the help. If veterans administration realy cared about veterans they would unite drs hands to treat each vet with proper individual treatment until top of va learns to listen to the ones who have borne the battle suicide prevention will not decrease and I’d love to sit down and talk to real dr veteran that’s why veterans admin. Is 40,000 odd some short of vacancies because ones with just short timers to retire are just staying to retire with thier full benefits and get out of system I’ve been told this by many

  17. Anthony W. McCann Sr. July 11, 2019 at 10:41

    As a Veteran of the 9 + years USMC. And, A Veteran of the V.A. system for thirty years I know this is horse manure. I have had two veterans who were friend who committed suicide, not from combat related issues but from anxiety over fighting the V.A.. I myself committed suicide several years ago over fighting the V.A. unfortunately I was revived. I say unfortunately because now I have thirty years of fighting the V.A. System. This is my third time writing this and my last time. I believe it’s because I named names in my prior remarks. And the government doesn’t like you to name names. But, I have contacted every congressman and senator by mail and phone several times over the years and yes I mean everyone, from Alaska, Hawaii, California and Main. Several Presidents and Vice Presidents, V.A. Director’s, Secretaries, and hospital directors. Just recently I contacted all my state and U.S. representatives, congressmen and senators. To no avail. In face most of them lied to each other and said they or their representatives spoke with me and said I was completely satisfied with my outcome. A bald face LIE. This conference is nothing but a paid vacation for government officials. You notice their is no public comment forum. No time for Veterans to express their grievances. This is a scam perpetuated by the government at Veterans expense.

    • Shanda Garth July 11, 2019 at 13:26

      Mr McCann: I am so grateful your attempts at suicide were unsuccessful. Your comments are genuine & I’m appreciative of your fight with VA because your efforts do make it less challenging for those of us coming behind you. You are being heard & your words will eventually reach someone who is in a position to assist you & all others. Thank you for continuing the fight on behalf of yourself & many others.

      • Michelle Williams July 12, 2019 at 09:57

        Mr. McCann

        I share your pain I too tried to kill myself on a few occasions even though I knew I didn’t want to die. I just didn’t want to wake up. I am saddened that a friend of mine succeeded in taking his life in December due to no help. I believe that at this convention the VA needs to bring in some survivors of mental health. I have been receiving care for the last couple years from the VA and I don’t think about not waking up everyday. I am not going to say that I am cured but I am getting help in a positive direction.

    • Val McLeod July 11, 2019 at 16:28

      Peace and strength to you Mr. McCann. Thank you for your sacrifice and {continued} service beyond retirement. Adding your voice to this critically important issue is absolutely invaluable. “No problem can be saved form the same level of consciousness that created it.” – Albert Einstein #VetsLivesMatterNow #MarchForOurVets2020 #ValULifeMore #iValU

  18. Ted Johnson July 11, 2019 at 10:38

    Is this conference for just VA and DoD? Can Veterans attend to provide their perspective? I’m a Veteran who would like to bring some real world off the street ideas to this conference.

  19. David Preston July 11, 2019 at 10:30

    It is disheartening to read the posts from those who want to be of assistance interspersed with those by veterans and their family who feel let down and abandoned by the system. Having been on both ends of the spectrum – first, as a struggling Gulf War veteran and today as a Master of Military Social Work student, I can see both sides and pray we can find a way to bridge the gap and create connections between those who need the resources and those who have the resources. I applaud the veterans and family who are stepping up and sharing their stories here and in other forums: now we need to figure out how to step up and solve this epidemic.

  20. Amber R Ciaccio July 11, 2019 at 10:27

    How do I get an invite?

    • Jake Clark July 11, 2019 at 13:37

      Give ‘em hell, Amber

  21. Barbara Quilliam West July 11, 2019 at 09:21

    How does a veteran get an invitation to this?

    • Tina K Mills July 11, 2019 at 11:24

      I am also a veteran and a licensed clinical drug and alcohol counselor. I’d love to go to this too! Are there scholarships to assist with payment/hotels? I also work with veterans and others in the Justice System, and I’d love to gain more knowledge and resources to help those in need.

      • Will Timeloser July 11, 2019 at 16:06

        I had to get my service dog myself, will change your life, she’s amazing and would not believe what and how much she does. 2 bad hips, knees and to keep short. First have a hip, knee and an ankle that pop out causes me to fall and would need to update this site’s hard drives to handle. I was very lucky, I found her online. She only trained dogs for people with spinal problems. She told me could come up and watch her anytime want and between paying attention and and the internet it’s still boggles my mind how much she does. Most people know that most dogs hate being picked up. I bought an expensive harness that has multiple locations to hook on enabling to control through them. So hooking on the harness at her center point and start to fall, I can pull on the leash, she will immediately put her into a stance trying to keep from picking up and she becomes the anchor point allowing me to pull up. She also pulls a little bit on leash when walking to assist keeping my legs moving so use less energy to walk being assisted. She knows exactly when in bed, find the spot where the pain is doing 2 things. First she will sit close enough to place herself on the spot and applying pressure which reducing pain. She then will put her belly on my back my spine acting as a heating pad or doing the same curling up at the small of my back and making her a emotional support dog too. She will help other ways being that anchor going up hills on street and will pull harder and the same with stairs, she will go to the top allowing me to use the leash to pull myself up. Since so many use a cane hunching over causes more problems, since she doesn’t allow me to fall and pulling myself to help walk it allows me to stand up straight and the correct posture, she doesn’t just help, she allows me to feel better and gives confidence. I understand the cost involved can be very expensive the VA say not enough proof to support service animals help, they won’t cover the cost of having. This costs to train for your special needs can be 20k+, if allowed they would be overwhelmed with so many wanting, then costs with adding more staff, shelter and safety would demolish budgets causing other programs already short that would cause cuts that would take away programs other vets need. Adding this would cause a lot more problems than could people realize, it’s no question could never afford or responsible. My girl does so much I believe should be given to anyone who has problems like mine to look into because how much it benefits quality of life.

  22. matt carlisle July 11, 2019 at 08:46

    Are you paying for airfare, hotel etc to come be at conference?

  23. Dr. Matthew Burke July 11, 2019 at 08:39

    Not sure if this comment will get through, so I’ll keep it brief. As a survivor of intense suicidal ideations, I’ve dedicated my life to finding a cure. Nearly 10 years into it and we’re almost there. The VA plays a vital part in both saving and destroying Vets. Let me help shine some light.

  24. Randolph Smith July 11, 2019 at 08:02

    I’m a US Army veteran paratrooper with a broken back, I just lived through the toughest year of my life and if you want to help veterans, you need to get us the care without the administrative “Bullsh*t and Delays” I live in pain and can get no footing on getting a life without it due to delays, incompetence and mishandling
    Clean this sh*t up
    Randy Smith, North Creek N.Y.

  25. Chuck Haigerty July 11, 2019 at 07:47

    Do I need to reregister for the 2019 suicide prevention conference

  26. Dale Cooper July 11, 2019 at 07:16

    Why does the VA wait until someone is at the point of being suicidal or at the point of wanting to harm someone else, before they help them? Why can’t they help us before we are that far into a bad situation?

    • Mary Thomas July 11, 2019 at 08:50

      I don’t agree, I recieved and continue to as soon as I asked.

  27. Earl Neale 5847 July 11, 2019 at 03:33

    There is a crisis in heroin use. Here at the SLC, UT. V.A. there is only one Doctor who is able to prescribe Suboxone which is ridiculous. I wasn’t able to get the medicine at the VA because there were to many patients who needed it. I/we need more help with outpatient suboxone medication. I’ve wanted and tried to kill myself many times. I even drove off a 100 ft. Cliff.
    My doctor wouldn’t help me because I refused to stop taking my clonazepam while taking suboxone. Without it I’m unable to go outside and be in public. This has to be changed. I’ve been taking benzos for over 30 yrs. I need them to function almost normally.
    There also needs to be more Doctors which can prescribe Suboxone on an outpatient basis.
    Please call me if you want or care to share more information with me.

  28. Frederick Black July 11, 2019 at 02:19

    This is a beautiful thing you guys are doing for Vets.

    • Patricia Farrington July 11, 2019 at 09:49

      You are lucky. Not everyone is receiving the services they need and they are speaking out here. Whether you agree or disagree is not the issue. People are speaking from their own experience and the lack of consistency across the board within the VA system is part of the problem and the other part of the problem is that privatization of the system stands in the way of getting services to all veterans. If the VA were properly staffed, there would be no need for MISSION or private outside agencies to take over!

  29. Albert Vrooman July 11, 2019 at 01:53

    I was driven to the verge of suicide by malpractice at the Roseburg, OR VA. They refuse to answer any questions about my treatment. (lack thereof) On May 15, of this year, my PCP actually assaulted me for trying to ask a question. (after she did kind of a ‘happy dance’ about the misery she had caused me) Though they ruined my health for about 8 months now, and counting, I have sought help from an outside provider, and I am recovering.

    How can I submit my information somewhere that can make a difference??

    IMO, the main thing that could prevent suicides is to break the ‘envelope of immunity’ errant employees of the VA enjoy in their malpractice. IMO, all the ‘feel good’ endeavors are useless without these reforms.

  30. Will Timeloser July 11, 2019 at 00:57

    I have no idea what a conference does except waste money and the stations set up for care and cases where judges hear appeals or an iPhone would do the same. If would like suicides to go down you must train people weekly until can be able to help, checking the box helped. It is very important for the veteran to have someone they like, trust and then share and not what goes on there. High risk people should be seen more and called instead of people doing the minimum afraid will be assigned more work. You need recreation center so not alone and can do physical therapy while there since the mind’s problem is only thinking time to go.. you don’t need a Convention. The veteran is not the problem, it’s either because under staffed or a crap staff. Oversight a light turned on at the reception area when the patient is in and off when has left. A simple report with designed software will show how much time is spent with patients. Also when not with a patient the door should be open so a supervisor can see what is really going on and manage. Problem is the supervisor doesn’t do anything. Could have programs in place working in under a month. If a resident or someone other can ask permission to observe, management should be too.

  31. Leo John Chapinski Sr July 11, 2019 at 00:03

    The VA is a Frickin Joke and i am tired of being in severe pain 24/7
    once my 2 Granddaughters are out of HS……………i Am Checking Out! enough of this BS!
    VA drs do not even know the difference between a Broken Toe and Arthritis…………………………Really?
    If (IF) i were compensated for all of my military related injuries, i would be able to live in a nice apt in “Very Expensive” Oceanside – right next to Camp Pendleton……………………………….3 Case Managers from Interfaith have given me ranges of 2,000……2500……..and 3,000 for my injuries but i am getting 800.???????????????????????????Not enough for a room in a garage! sad but true
    VA Refuses to Compensate me for accident in 1977/78 (while in dress blues) and On Duty which gave me TBI, 2 Bad Discs, and 2 Bad Knees………………………just because an 01 Remington raider/unit diary clerk did not enter into my MRB/SRB.!!!!!!! BS!

    Leo of Rockford IL in Oceanside CA (currently in Congestive Heart Failure + Severe Edema) PTSD & Sleep Apnea and living in my van (sit up to sleep)

    Leo John Chapinski Sr
    Semper Fidelis
    70-81 USMC
    01-04 CaArNG

  32. Raymond G Stephens July 10, 2019 at 23:53

    This article spells out one of the biggest barriers to this issue. All of these experts trying to come up with clever slogans and ways to re-brand the same thing. If you want real input that will make a change hopefully you will consider inviting and solicit input from people who have attempted to end their life, from people who actually are the one closest to the individual who have to deal with the now and later of these events to include friends and family who are the ones who can also provide real insight into all aspects of this issue. Until these inputs and heard and acted upon this issue will never change.

  33. PhD. White Buffalo Eagle Bear Hawk Wolf July 10, 2019 at 23:23

    Merry meet! How is everyone doing? Question do you guy’s know all the different reasons why many of us veterans commit suicide let if it’s even truthfully possible to achieve what you guy’s think you’re going to achieve? Many of us veterans going back to WWI up to desert storm and shield and even up to now aren’t just committing suicide because of PTSD or other military related health issues.
    Some of them commit suicide because the VA and the VA hospital not doing the responsible things and help all of us whether we have all our credentials or not. Also the VA is supposed to be helping all veterans not just pick and choosing who the wish to help and who not. Prime example gunny Sgt Steven Mathews from desert storm who committed suicide in 1999 it was not because of PTSD it was because of failure on the VA hospital and VA staffing in getting the man the treatment required all because he didn’t have his credentials on hand and wasn’t in your guy’s syatem as a retired or honorable discharge personal.
    Also I know my records themselves haven’t been released to me since my request and this also causes suicide for many of us homeless veterans. I’m not the only homeless veteran that’s having issues with the VA and VA hospital in regards to getting help with documents or treatment there’s over a couple hundred homeless veterans throughout the U.S. that have similar issues like mine and are suicidal none the less. It’s bad enough we have the memory issues from the war’s and battles we have been in we don’t need all this other bull crap.
    The VA and DoD both need to look more deeply into this before thinking that it’s going to be simple or easy and not realize there’s more to why us veterans commit suicide than what you all think. I’ve been retired from the US military since December 01st, 2002 yet served since May 05th, 1958. I’ve witnessed many events in my 74 year 7 months and 11 days and have learned that we all have issues not just us veterans yet even other government officials and none government officials like police officers medical staff as well as firemen and civilian.

  34. Micah Richardson July 10, 2019 at 22:33

    My service related PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety got the better of me in 2016 resulting in me losing my job of 15 years and four other jobs between then and July 2018.. subsequently, my wife of 24 years left me because I turned to alcohol to treat my mental health condition. She eventually would not even let me see my kids as well. In my condition at that time I went to her apartment to see if my kids where there, which they where not, and I broke a window. That resulted in a felony charge. I also was convicted of two DWI’s during that period, resulting in probation for a felony. I spent 9 months in jail from July 2018 to July 2019, resulting in me losing what few assets I had after my divorce.. This includes my vehicle and my house. To better complicate things, I lost my nursing license of which is the only thing I have done since I got out of the military.

    None the less, once I obtain employment I am going to obtain an addiction councilor license. Through rehab, therapy, and cisirinc with the psychiatrist I realized I am not the only person who feels like that. Likewise, I was unaware that 22 veterans a day take their own lives. I have actually tastes the cold bitter taste of the barrel of a fun more than once. Meeting with many veterans after that I also realized that many, many more that 22 have either contemplated or attempted suicide.. These people need to be touched now, and the more qualified people willing to help the more that can be reached. I also want to reach families, churches and businesses regarihos to recognize depression, PTSD, and addiction and how to address it in a manner that will increase the likelihood of the individual listening and responding. The difficulty for myself is the financial logistics at this point. Being on probation and likely having to take a very low income job when I actually get a job well likely require me to take. Very limited number of courses a month. But I assure you I will get it.

  35. Alan Wells July 10, 2019 at 22:21

    The conference was incepted in 2004, and it is now 2019, so 15 years have gone by. Have you caused suicide rates to go down? The veterans who have committed suicide aren’t around anymore to give you feedback, so you aren’t going to hear from them. Obviously, the veterans who committed suicide didn’t feel that the VA could help them, or those veterans probably wouldn’t have killed themselves. The money being spent on suicide prevention gives some people a paycheck, but how effective are you really? The government and the VA is spending money on the issue, which means that some doctors and health care workers, and hotline people are getting a paycheck, but to what degree are you really helping to prevent suicide? I don’t think that all the veterans who have killed themselves would say that you have been very effective. But they can’t speak anymore can they? So I’m going to say what I think they would say. You might have some success stories, and make statements like, “If we can just save one person then it’s worth it.” But that is little consolation to someone who is trying to decide whether the VA can really help them, or if they should just quietly go and kill themselves. If the perception is, that the VA might do nothing for them, or actually make their life worse, then they aren’t going to seek help. I don’t want to discourage the people involved in the effort to prevent suicide, but I sincerely feel that the health care system isn’t willing to face the harsh reality of what I’m stating here. And unless you face this reality, then suicide prevention effectiveness isn’t going to improve. If enough veterans kill themselves, then the suicide rates may eventually go down because there won’t be anymore suicidal veterans left. Sorry to be so cynical, but I think that a suicidal veteran would respect my willingness to openly state what they may feel. I think that a good starting point is to be able to express how a suicidal person might feel, so that they know that someone understands them.

  36. Stephen Cline July 10, 2019 at 22:08

    I think I can safely say the VA Health Care System is a major factor in Veteran suicides. At the very least don’t care anymore. With all the propaganda coming out of the VA about how much the Healthcare care system has improved in recent years. I have seen the exact opposite. That new program that President Trump is so proud of, I’d bet you veterans had zero input but the VO’s had more than their say. In 20 years All I’ve gotten is excuses platitudes and CYOA from the VA Faculty I’ve had the unfortunate displeasure of have no choice but to use. Each year has been worse than the one before. Oh, and your Mental healthcare has a lot to be desired. In the few years that I used the system I never saw the same Psychiatrist twice. Exactly what a suicidal Veteran wants to do is start over week after week, month after month, year after year. Not what I would call a healthy outlook on life. I have become so disgusted with the VAMC that when I go to bed at night my hope is that I do not wake up again. After my last attempt I made a promise that the VA have made extremely hard to keep not to attempt it again.

  37. Alfredo H Santano July 10, 2019 at 22:04

    I truly believe the VA/DOD SUICIDE PREVENTION should talk about 4 to 5 years ago what the Federal Government did to all of the veterans that were taking opioids to help them live with the pains that never end a decision was made to remove all the TBI and PTSD Veterans suffering and the statement was said that unless we are dying or have cancer we aren’t going to be given the medication but all the Veterans that are static and every year our Disabilities continue to worsen when will anyone speak for us and give us the medical assistance that is given to the rest of the country that is approved for every other state except those many of us whom fought for our countries freedom and now that we need medical care aren’t treated the same as everyone else in the country cause we have to wait for federal approval or to be honest maybe there waiting for more Veterans to die before they start helping all of us. To all my Veteran brothers who are living in pain that never ends!

  38. maricela diaz July 10, 2019 at 21:36

    I’m a caregiver to my husband whom served on 2 deployments from ’99-07 UCMC
    And was part of the 911 Iraqi Freedom. He is 100% disabled and suffers from PTSD, IBS, TBI, ANXIETY, insomnia, partial Hearing loss, Arthritis and other issues due to his service.

    One main factor is Suicide thoughts due to survival guilt. I would like to know if there’s any family programs that help.out with our situation that can help US as a family to over come this nation wide issue. I work full time, we have 4 kids and my husband stays at home due to all these issues. He has struggled and continued use to do so. It’s a big weight on my shoulders to care for 5 people.
    I’m also someone that suffers from anxiety, depression and phobias, currently on medications. All this hits my health hard and I just want to learn how to help him, myself and my children to live a decent life. I’m a healthcare worker too for Providence Hospital. I see a lot and endure everyone else’s struggles.
    I’m looking for a vacation, a little get away, anything to relieve some stress

    Leo Chirinos is the veteran.

    We are in desperate need of family guidance.
    Thank you for the time.

  39. Elizabeth Green July 10, 2019 at 20:39

    Are you asking veterans to speak to these employees about what they need for suicide prevention, and not just what you all think veterans need? Because there might be some things missing.

  40. Sharon Lynn July 10, 2019 at 20:16

    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.

  41. Miles Anderson July 10, 2019 at 20:06

    The saddest thing is since this conference inception in 2004 this problem has gotten worse not better. A time for a new approach ….

    Save the 22 a day

    Spend the money on the sick not on the salaries and the hotels….

  42. Sharon Lynn July 10, 2019 at 20:06

    Who can I talk to now? My fiancé is a disabled Vietnam Vet under the care of the VA Hospital. He was put on a program when they took away the Vicodin they were giving him for years for all the pain he is in. Now they are removing him off the program that has actually saved his life, took him out of depression and has him function with the pain because of the program. They are weaning him off of is, he is going to go back to the way he was before this program and nobody cares in the VA administration. How can you do that to a man who served our country? Why do you kick someone out of a program that is letting him live peacefully with his pain now, I don’t get it. I will be here watching him destroy himself because of the pain. Things have gotten so much worse anymore.

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