[News] 18 veterans commit suicide each day
Anti-Imperialist News
news at freedomarchives.org
Wed Apr 28 11:38:37 EDT 2010
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 dont 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.
VAs 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, VAs 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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