update Mom filed lawsuit against the VA
update 'I just wish they would have found him and stopped him:' Central Georgia family mourns after veteran commits suicide
The family of 28-year-old Gary Pressley is now searching for answers after he took his own life in the parking lot of the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center
In this case, Pressley's family says the VA did have the chance to help him, but didn't act. His sister, Lisa Johnson, says she called the VA to tell them her brother was threatening suicide from their parking lot just moments before he killed himself. read more here
Two veterans kill themselves at separate VA medical centers in Georgia
Atlanta Journal Constitutional
By Jeremy Redmon
April 8, 2019
The victim in Atlanta was 68 years old and shot himself, according to a person familiar with the investigation who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.
The first death happened Friday in a parking garage at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin, according to U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson’s office. The second occurred Saturday outside the main entrance to the Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur on Clairmont Road. The VA declined to identify the victims or describe the circumstances of their deaths, citing privacy concerns.
read more here
It happened 27 times last year when veterans screamed for help as loud as they could. They committed suicide in public, and most of the time, at their local VA. Too bad too many only spread the "suicide awareness" instead of healing awareness. Had that message been spread...maybe these two veterans would have found hope instead of their guns.
#BreakTheSilence and #TakeBackYourLife because you can defeat PTSD and live a better life.
it takes a lot for us to deal with our day to day actives Then we go to the VA thinking that will be the place we can get some understanding only to find that nobody there gives S**T either.
ReplyDeleteIt does take a lot but that has not changed since my Dad, 100% disabled Korean War veteran had to fight, or since my husband 100% Vietnam veteran had to fight, with me right by his side. I have been dealing with the VA all my life. The thing is, there are a lot problems with the VA but I blame Congress. They have had authority over how you guys are treated since 1946.
DeleteAs for problems, I have been in the civilian healthcare system all my life too and go through most of the problems veterans do within the VA system. There are good people at the VA too and I know a lot of veterans getting great care from them, including my Dad during his life, hubby and a lot of others.
For whatever is wrong with the way you are treated, fight back. If you have to take it up to the administrator of your local VA.
Make sure that you know if you are being treated by a VA employee or a contractor. The VA has authority over the employee but not employees of the contractors they hire. Huge difference.
Also, make sure you contact your member of Congress and hold them accountable. The VA is under their authority. copy this link and see what they are actually in charge of, https://veterans.house.gov/about/our-history and above all, do not give up on what is right. You paid for it when you risked your life!