[News] 18 veterans commit suicide each day

[Anti-Imperialist News]

This is published by Army Times

18 veterans commit suicide each day

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/04/military_veterans_suicide_042210w/
By 
<mailto:rmaze at atpco.com?subject=Question%20from%20ArmyTimes.com%20reader>Rick 
Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Apr 26, 2010 8:00:40 EDT

Troubling new data show there are an average of 
950 suicide attempts each month by veterans who 
are receiving some type of treatment from the Veterans Affairs Department.

Seven percent of the attempts are successful, and 
11 percent of those who don’t succeed on the 
first attempt try again within nine months.

The numbers, which come at a time when VA is 
strengthening its suicide prevention programs, 
show about 18 veteran suicides a day, about five 
by veterans who are receiving VA care.

Access to care appears to be a key factor, 
officials said, noting that once a veteran is 
inside the VA care program, screening programs 
are in place to identify those with problems, and 
special efforts are made to track those 
considered at high risk, such as monitoring 
whether they are keeping appointments.

A key part of the new data shows the suicide rate 
is lower for veterans aged 18 to 29 who are using 
VA health care services than those who are not. 
That leads VA officials to believe that about 250 
lives have been saved each year as a result of VA treatment.

VA’s suicide hotline has been receiving about 
10,000 calls a month from current and former 
service members. The number is 1-800-273-8255. 
Service members and veterans should push 1 for veterans’ services.

Dr. Janet Kemp, VA’s national suicide prevention 
coordinator, credits the hotline with rescuing 
7,000 veterans who were in the act of suicide ­ 
in addition to referrals, counseling and other help.

Suicide attempts by Iraq and Afghanistan veterans 
remains a key area of concern. In fiscal 2009, 
which ended Sept. 30, there were 1,621 suicide 
attempts by men and 247 by women who served in 
Iraq or Afghanistan, with 94 men and four women dying.

In general, VA officials said, women attempt 
suicide more often, but men are more likely to 
succeed in the attempt, mainly because women use 
less lethal and less violent means while men are more likely to use firearms.

Suicide attempts among veterans appear to follow those trends, officials said.




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