22,000 vets call suicide hotline in its opening year

[obie7661]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-07-28-Vets-suicide_N.htm

22,000 vets call suicide hotline in its opening year

...According to a recent RAND Corp. study, roughly one in five soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan displays symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, putting them at a higher risk for suicide. Researchers at Portland State University found that male veterans are twice as likely to commit suicide than men who are not veterans....

[massillon catholic]

Oh, I forgot the senate majority leader harry reid.

[MUCSteelers5xSuperChamp]

That number is a very scary one to look at. I feel bad for the soldiers that are going through the situation right now and I hope they get the treatment needed to continue to live life.

[massillon catholic]

Oh, did I forget to mention that john kerry voted for the war before he voted against it?

[Kamd50]

None of what you are saying has anything to do with why so many of these fine brave soldiers are in the sad mental condition that they are in. You cannot be serious.

This has to do with the duress and conditions that they are subjected to on a daily basis. The things that they have gone through and witnessed are horrifying; things that most of us cannot even begin to imagine. Many many of them have come back with terrible mutilations and mental disorders. I have read blogs and myspace accounts of our servicemen, where they have personally journaled the awful events of watching their fellow troops having their heads blown off their bodies or parts of their faces laying somewhere with their eyes out of the sockets and other very gruesome stuff that would cause anyone to have nightmares for the rest of their lives.

Please do not minimize their plight by making snide political comments, MC. These people are desperately hurting and need the support of our government and citizens alike. And most of all, our constant prayers.

[bs.gunn]

I know more than my fair share of vets who've been to Iraq. It's sad to say that those who have fought are definitely not the same as they were before. Some of the other guys haven't seen combat and they seem fine to me.

[monte81]

As a veteran who was stationed in one of the hottest units in the United States Army---101st Airborne, which is 18 hour rapid deployment. That means the unit, battalion, brigade, or most of the post can be on the way to a warzone within those 1st 18 hours of conflict. I know 1st hand that warzones, conflicts, etc,... changes a person for a longtime and sometimes FOREVER!!

Myself and alot of others I deployed with over the years have issues such as severe anger management, depression, PTSD, nightmares, and several other mental conditions that most civilians donot encounter in most cases. I was lucky and only had to have brief anger management and counseling. Although I did have proplems dealing with aggression, fighting, and a hot temper along with hot flashes when I came back home from Iraq that caused me some legal trouble. However, ALOT of soldiers and some of my "ranger buddies" are in very difficult stages of their lives to this day. Anyone on here know what its like to be in Bosnia, Cosovio(sp), Iraq, and even Cuba for 3-6-9-12-18 months fighting, killing, and guarding people you dont even know if they are your enemy? man our GOVT. and Veterans Administration in made up of 21% veterans so 79% of congress, advocates, social netwroks, etc,... are unaware of the economical, social, mental state of our veterans and soldiers which is sad and really worries me.

If you never walked the line then please do not rationalize the proud soldiers who strap it up for ALL AMERICANS to walk free and clear from danger everyday!

[02teleprograd]

I would like to know how many people from ww2 or past wars wanted to kill them selfs.

[Tiger77]

I have an uncle who was in Vietnam. He has nightmares to this day. He's never shared any thoughts of suicide but I know he's been through some dark days.

[monte81]

I would like to know how many people from ww2 or past wars wanted to kill them selfs.

the numbers are higher than you think. veterans and soldiers are proud people and more than likely would not devulge any suicidal thoughts to others.

[MUCSteelers5xSuperChamp]

monte81,

The war no question is taking it's toll on the men serving over there. Kamd50's post left me a little rattled about just what goes on in Iraq and anywhere else.

Just how were you able to overcome the dangers of such and continue to be a major contributor not just to your daily job as a career counselor but your hometown as well?

[dataintsmiff]

I'm a veteran and have also served in combat. I'm here to tell you, its traumatic. Very traumatic. Like Monte stated above, it took me a long time to overcome some anger issues. I still occasionally relapse, but all in all, I'm doing fairly well now. It was a long road though. What you see and are exposed to in situations like those is not natural and if anyone thinks that your brain is not "in shock" then they don't know what they're talking about. Human beings, in my opinion, are not meant to see or do things like that. Thanks Kam for the above post, very well stated. And thank you Monte for serving our country so bravely. God bless you both and every soldier serving overseas. I hope you all make a safe return and continue your lives. :usflag:

[02teleprograd]

I'm a veteran and have also served in combat. I'm here to tell you, its traumatic. Very traumatic. Like Monte stated above, it took me a long time to overcome some anger issues. I still occasionally relapse, but all in all, I'm doing fairly well now. It was a long road though. What you see and are exposed to in situations like those is not natural and if anyone thinks that your brain is not "in shock" then they don't know what they're talking about. Human beings, in my opinion, are not meant to see or do things like that. Thanks Kam for the above post, very well stated. And thank you Monte for serving our country so bravely. God bless you both and every soldier serving overseas. I hope you all make a safe return and continue your lives. :usflag:

Don't take this the wrong way but is there any info on mental states of soldiers from wars were genocide were committed? Nazi Germany, Bosnia/Kosovo, places in south Africa..

[DAWGH8R]

Myself and alot of others I deployed with over the years have issues such as severe anger management, depression, PTSD, nightmares, and several other mental conditions that most civilians donot encounter in most cases.

You had ALL of these issues in HIGH SCHOOL Monte !!

[monte81]

Don't take this the wrong way but is there any info on mental states of soldiers from wars were genocide were committed? Nazi Germany, Bosnia/Kosovo, places in south Africa..


Alot of soldiers that srved in Bosnia/Kosovo and in South Africa have the same issues IF they were on the frontline. During convoys in Somolia----the Somoli familes and soldiers were sending children right smack in front of our vehicles to be slaughtered. it was more like fighting a street war, they were chewing on some kind of bay leaves that had them like robots taking SEVERAL M16A4 rounds to stop them. 7.62 caliber rounds should knck anyone straight to the ground!!! Many, many stories from troops who served in all conflicts and wars. THe Veterans Affairs would not like the outside world to know how how soldiers were really suffering when returning home. I now work for a to veteran organization and I see veterans in my office who have suffered for 20-30 plus years. Alot of homeless people in the cities are veterans with nowhere to go. The veterans shelter in COlumbus is always filled with veterans who have resorted to drugs and heavy alcohol use to hind the REAL pain!


DAWG---- ask the Mrs. Dawg, I was the most pleasent student/athlete in the HS until gameday!!!:lol: I laughed so-so hard at your post and aome would highly agree with you!!!