Vietnam Veterans should have been the warning for what we have now

With over 14,000 posts between two blogs, I have a hard time remembering what I already posted about. (26 years worth of information trapped in my brain does leave it a bit crowded in there.) Most of the time I'll find something I did while searching for information for a new video. That's how I came across this from 2006.

I had a rather lengthy rant this morning about how some people have avoided my work no matter what I know or what I have to back up what I post as much as they avoid passing on my videos. It's almost as if they give me any credit as a non-Republican, they will be giving aid and comfort to their enemy, instead of helping veterans. That's how ridiculous this division has become in this country. I do not make this claim without knowing what they themselves have admitted to, at least the honest ones anyway.

This post in 2006 was just part of the reason I was screaming for someone with the power to get things up to speed would do it, but they didn't listen and the people who did read what I wrote, did nothing either. For me I think about the veterans who committed suicide, were turned away from the VA because there was not enough time in the day for them, the families that fell apart and all of the veterans who joined the ranks of the homeless when none of it had to happen if someone, somewhere had listened back then. The only thing I had to gain and still have to gain is the knowledge that I did the best I could to help the veterans. I still have to wonder what the people who refused to help me had to gain by not doing it? Perhaps I'll never know but too many will never know either because they are no longer here.

Screaming In An Empty Room: VETERANS SUICIDE STATISTICS
Saturday, February 18, 2006
VETERANS SUICIDE STATISTICS

SUICIDE STATISTICS
According to a study by Tim A. Bullman and Han K. Yang in the Federal Practitioner 12 (3) : 9-13 (March 1995), "...no more than 20,000 Vietnam Veterans died of suicide from the time of discharge through the end of 1993". However there are others that claim that many more veterans have died of suicide since the Vietnam War.

In Chuck Deans' book, Nam Vet., printed in 1990 by Multnomah Press, Portland, Oregon, 97226, the author states that "Fifty-eight thousand plus died in the Vietnam War. Over 150,000 have committed suicide since the war ended". According to this book, Chuck Dean is a Vietnam Veteran who served in the 173rd Airborne, arriving in Vietnam in 1965. At the time the book was written, Mr. Dean was the executive director of Point Man International, a Seattle based, non-profit support organization dedicated to healing the war wounds of Vietnam Veterans.

While doing research for his novel, Suicide Wall, Alexander Paul contacted Point Man International and was given the name of a retired VA doctor, and conducted a phone interview with him. In that interview, the doctor related that his estimate of the number of Vietnam Veteran suicides was 200,000 men, and that the reason the official suicide statistics were so much lower was that in many cases the suicides were documented as accidents, primarily single-car drunk driving accidents and self inflicted gunshot wounds that were not accompanied by a suicide note or statement. According to the doctor, the under reporting of suicides was primarily an act of kindness to the surviving relatives.

If the estimate of over 150,000 veterans of the Vietnam War having committed suicide since returning home is true, the figure would be almost three times the number killed in the war. When these deaths are added to the 50,000 plus Vietnam War casualties, the number approaches the 292,000 American casualties of World War II.



http://www.suicidewall.com/SWStats.html





The stigma of mental illness, a commander's or a soldier's focus on their career, the worry about confidentiality -- all of these can prevent soldiers from getting the mental health counseling and help that they need. Explaining the problems are psychiatrist and author Jonathan Shay; Matthew Friedman, executive director of the VA's National Center for PTSD; VA psychiatrist Andrew Pomerantz; retired Navy psychologist Dennis Reeves; veterans' advocate and former Army Ranger Steve Robinson; Col. Thomas Burke, head of mental health policy for the Dept. of Defense; and Vietnam vet and VA counselor Jim Dooley. These excerpts are from their extended interviews.



http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/heart/themes/

FROM THE DAV STUDY

For approximately 500,000 veterans (Wilson 1978) of the combat in Southeast Asia, this problematic outlook has become a chronic lifestyle (referring to the obsessive connection with combat experiences) affecting not only the veterans but countless millions of persons who are in contact with these veterans. The symptoms described below are experienced by all Vietnam combat veterans to varying degrees. However, for some with the most extensive combat histories and other variables which have yet to be enumerated, Vietnam related problems have persisted in disrupting all areas of life experience. According to Wilson (1978) the number of veterans experiencing these symptoms will climb until 1985 based on his belief of Erickson's psychosocial developmental stages and how far along in these stages most combat veterans will be by 1985. Furthermore, without any intervention, what was once a reaction to a traumatic episode may for many become almost unchangeable personality characteristic.



As you can see the problems facing todays veterans with PTSD it becomes crucial to act as swiftly as possible to begin the healing process. Dismissing the effects on the human mind can, will and does determine the outcome, as we have seen with the number of suicides which have already claimed more lives needlessly.

By 1978 when Wilson conducted his study the number of Vietnam Veterans already diagnosed with PTSD was at 500,000. He stated the number of those who had PTSD would continue to rise. He was right. Today the VA is reporting veterans are presenting themselves for treatment from WWII and Korea, who up until now found that their own illnesses were passed off and excuses instead of treated. Sadly the numbers of Vietnam Veterans who have survived the war and the aftermath have fallen sharply. Jonathan Shay, a renowned psychologist and author has been treating these veterans. He places the number of those with PTSD from Vietnam in the 200,000 range. Suicide and substance abuse has claimed to many lives. When we speak of substance abuse with PTSD veterans, it is logical to think they are simply among the rest of society addicted to these substances. Most will not benefit from treatment programs for addiction because they are not addicted to the chemical itself, they are self medicating themselves. This would be the only reason the figures would drop so far so fast.

This is what our new generation of veterans face today and along with them their families and all those who interact with them on a daily basis. This cannot be allowed to continue.

Well there you have it. The Vietnam veterans should have been a clear warning of what we have now. Think of where we could have gotten if the right people had listened. kc