According to CNN, one veteran commits suicide every 65 minutes. That is 22 veterans a day. Now, it is being brought to light how there are more veterans not being reported under these statistics. Certain states, 29 to be exact, do not reveal this information such as California and Texas. It is hard to imagine how many veterans are resorting to suicide thinking about the large populations in just those two states alone. Homeless, family reporting, deaths due to recklessness, and the lack of formal reporting also contribute to these inaccurate statistics. Here are some facts this article points out about the seriousness of this issue:
*30% of veterans have thought about committed suicide
*1 out of every five suicides is a veteran.
*Female veteran suicide numbers are the most inaccurate.
*45% of veterans know another veteran of the Iraqi and/or Afghanistan war that attempted suicide.
Another article came out in the past few days and contained even more raw numbers. TIME reported on the data recently released stating that young veteran suicide rates have increased at 44% in the past 2 years. Female veterans spiked to 11% during the same 2 years. These statistics have the VA suicide prevention teams on alert, especially when the numbers are climbing at an alarming rate...well over the number of military members who have died in combat.
What changes will these statistics bring? We will only know when the time comes. Which means hurry up and wait...even with these staggering numbers. Posted on the side of the blog is some of the many programs that are available to veterans and family members, including the Vet Crisis line. They are continuously available for any calls (and even chat or text message) from veterans thinking about committing suicide or family concerned about their loved ones. Please do not hesitate using that free resource. From personal experience, I wish the service members and veterans I knew that committed suicide made a phone call to talk to someone before making their decision to end their life. I am also posting a free resource for mental healthcare for veterans and families that served after 9/11. Please share any resource information you may have experienced or have knowledge of. It may help another veteran or family member in their search to fight this battle on the homefront.
My personal note...it angers me that with over 8,000 veterans committing suicide a year nothing is being done. You survive battle, but no one will help you survive when you get home. The battle continues even on the homefront. Thoughts, comments, cuss words?
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