Texas VA Hospitals had 24 attempted suicides since 2003

Veterans committing suicide did not send a loud enough message that they are not getting what they need. Suicide at a VA is a public condemnation for their refusal to hear the others.

Veteran’s Suicide Prompts Review Of Prevention Efforts
KWTX News
By: Matt Howerton
October 31, 2013

TEMPLE (October 31, 2013) -- VA Officials are currently conducting an internal review after a veteran walked into a public restroom at the Temple VA Hospital last September and shot himself.

The veteran died days later at Scott and White Hospital in Temple.

The suicide brings light to a growing trend amongst veterans. A trend, both VA and Military officials are very aware about.

“Any loss of life is a tragic event, especially when it's a suicide," Central Texas’ Veterans Health Care System Lead Suicide Prevention Coordinator Natalie Qualls said.

"We hope veterans see that there are other options and resources available to them before contemplating suicide."

According to documents obtained by News 10, there have been 24 suicide attempts at VA Hospitals in Temple and Waco since 2003.

Seventeen attempts were reported at the Temple VA Hospital, and seven at the VA Hospital in Waco.

Out of the 24, 13 dealt with overdoses, 7 involved self-inflicting lacerations and stab wounds, 2 stemmed from strangulation attempts, one involved ingesting a poisonous substance, and one dealt with an attempted suicidal jump.

September’s suicide will be the second in ten years after a man shot himself in the Temple VA Hospital’s parking lot in 2005.
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