Clay Hunt Deserved Better Than This Suicide Prevention Bill

Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
December 9, 2014

Some people are cheering this news, but I'm not.

John Boehner Will Take Up Tim Walz's and Jeff Miller's Veteran Suicide Bill
Sunshine State News
By: KEVIN DERBY
December 9, 2014

As the end of the current congressional session nears, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, signaled on Monday that he is going to push a bill from a Florida Republican and two Northern Democrats increasing access to mental health services for veterans.

With reports showing more than 20 veterans a day committing suicide, U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., the chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Democrats U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and U.S. Rep. Tim Walz of Minnesota introduced the “Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act” over the summer. The bill increases mental health-care access for veterans through launching a peer support and community outreach pilot program, creating a one-stop website for veterans needing health care and mandating annual evaluations and assessments of VA suicide programs. The legislation has the support of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans for America (IAVA).

“The key to curbing the epidemic of veteran suicides is improving the accessibility and effectiveness of mental health-care available to our returning heroes,” Miller said back in July when the bill was introduced. “Over the past seven years, VA's mental health-care staff and budget have grown by nearly 40 percent, but the fact remains, veterans are still committing suicide at a frightening pace. This slow-motion national tragedy is likely to continue as long as the Department of Veterans Affairs sticks to its normal, business-as-usual approach of treating veterans where and how VA wants as opposed to where and how veterans want.
read more here

I can't cheer for yet one more copy and paste bill with another name attached to it of a too short lived life. Clay Hunt deserved better than this. They all did.

Talking to family members I used to be able to tell them that things are changing and people will act. Now I can't tell them they will take action the right way. There have been far too many years of things like H.R.5059 - Clay Hunt SAV Act

Official Title as Introduced:
To direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for the conduct of annual evaluations of mental health care and suicide prevention programs of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, to review the terms or characterization of the discharge or separation of certain individuals from the Armed Forces, to require a pilot program on loan repayment for psychiatrists who agree to serve in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

It all sounds good but it all sounds so familiar.

Joshua Omvig's parents thought the bill congress passed in their son's name would make a difference too.

Text of the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act
This bill was introduced on June 27, 2007, in a previous session of Congress, but was not enacted. The text of the bill below is as of Jul 23, 2007 (Reported by Senate Committee).

Source: GPO
II
Calendar No. 279
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 479
Report No. 110–132
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 1, 2007
Mr. Harkin (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Rockefeller, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Smith, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Thune, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Reid, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Coleman, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Obama, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Dorgan, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Stevens, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Biden, and Mr. Enzi) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

July 23, 2007
Reported by Mr. Akaka, without amendment

A BILL
To reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans.
1.Short title
This Act may be cited as the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act.
2.Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1)suicide among veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious problem; and
(2)the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should take into consideration the special needs of veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder in developing and implementing the comprehensive program required by section 3(a).
3.Comprehensive program for suicide prevention among veterans
(a)Program required
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop and implement a comprehensive program for reducing the incidence of suicide among veterans.
(b)Program elements
(1)De-stigmatizing mental health
The program required by subsection (a) shall include a national mental health campaign to increase awareness in the veteran community that mental health is essential to overall health and that very effective modern treatments can promote recovery from mental illness. The campaign may include the following:
(A)Activities targeted at veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and the families of such veterans.
(B)Monthly messages on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs that express the theme that mental health is essential to overall health.
(C)Inclusion of the theme described in subparagraph (B) in public addresses, speeches, and veterans service organization convention addresses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and other senior officials of the Department.
(2)Training of employees and other personnel
The program shall provide for mandatory training on suicide and suicide prevention for appropriate employees and contractor personnel (including all medical personnel) of the Department of Veterans Affairs who interact with veterans. Such training shall include information pertinent to the job of such employees and personnel, including information on the following:

(A)Recognition of risk factors for suicide.
(B)Protocols for responding to crisis situations involving veterans who may be at high risk for suicide.
(C)Best practices for suicide prevention.
(3)Family education and outreach
The program shall include programs of outreach to, and education for, veterans and families of veterans (including, in particular, veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and the families of such veterans) in order to assist the family members of veterans in—
(A)eliminating or overcoming stigmas associated with mental illness;
(B)understanding issues that arise in the readjustment of veterans to civilian life;
(C)identifying signs and symptoms of mental health problems; and
(D)encouraging veterans to seek assistance for such problems.
(4)Peer support program
(A)In general
The program shall provide support for the development of a program to enable veterans to serve as peer counselors to—
(i)assist other veterans with mental health issues; and
(ii)conduct outreach to veterans and families of veterans on mental health matters.
(B)Training
The program supported by subparagraph (A) shall include appropriate training for peer counselors under the program, including training in the identification of risk factors for suicide.
(C)Peer support counseling as supplemental service
The program supported by subparagraph (A) shall be offered in addition to other mental health services already offered by the Department and services created pursuant to this Act.
(5)Health assessments of veterans
The program shall encourage all veterans, when they apply for benefits provided by the Department, to undergo a mental health assessment at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility (including a center established under section 1712A of title 38, United States Code).
(6)Counseling and treatment of veterans
The program shall provide for referrals to appropriate counseling and treatment programs for veterans who show signs or symptoms of mental health problems.
(7)Suicide prevention counselors
The program shall provide for the designation of a suicide prevention counselor at each Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility other than centers established under section 1712A of title 38, United States Code. Each counselor shall work with local emergency rooms, law enforcement agencies, local mental health organizations, and veterans service organizations to engage in outreach to veterans to inform them of mental health services that are available to them and to improve the coordination of mental health care to veterans at the local level.
(8)Research on best practices
(A)In general
The program shall provide for research on best practices for suicide prevention among veterans.
(B)Steering committee
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a steering committee to advise the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the research described in subparagraph (A). Such steering committee shall be comprised of representatives from the following:
(i)National Institute of Mental Health.
(ii)Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
(iii)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(9)Substance abuse treatment
The program shall provide for referrals to appropriate counseling and treatment programs of veterans who show signs or symptoms of substance abuse.
(10)24-hour mental health care
The program shall include mechanisms to ensure the availability of services for mental health care for veterans on a 24-hour basis.
(11)Telephone hotline
The program may include a toll-free telephone number (commonly referred to as an 800 number) through which veterans may obtain information on and referrals to appropriate mental health services. The telephone number shall be serviced by personnel with appropriate mental health training, and shall be operational at all times.
(12)Other elements
The program may provide for such other activities and programs to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs considers appropriate.
4.Report to Congress on suicide prevention programs and activities
(a)Report required
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the programs and activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans.
(b)Elements
The report shall include the following:
(1)A description of the status of the implementation of the program required by section 3(a). (2)A description of the scheduled implementation of the program during the two-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, including the costs of implementation of the program over that period.
(3)A plan for additional programs and activities to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans. (4)Such recommendations for additional legislative or administrative action as the Secretary considers appropriate to improve and enhance the suicide prevention programs and activities of the Department. (c)Consultation
In developing the plan required by subsection (b)(3), the Secretary shall consult with the following:
(1)The National Institute of Mental Health.
(2)The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
(3)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. July 23, 2007
Reported without amendment

President Bush signed this bill because it was supposed to work. What it produced was more suicides among servicemembers and veterans. It didn't work yet it was followed by more and more bills the American public were told would work, followed by more and more money and more and more lives lost while everyone was patting themselves on the back for getting the bills passed and charities raking in millions a year while grieving families were wondering why their warrior had to die away from combat when they were supposed to be safe.

What the fuck are we doing? What kind of a game is being played? Is anyone paying attention?

Has anyone taken the time to find out why they are committing suicide? Anyone bother to take a serious look at what has been failing and who is responsible for all of it? Anyone interested in asking the right question so the next time they can actually get their heads out of their asses and do something that will actually help?

As of right now there are over 1,800 post on military suicide on Wounded Times. On August 14, 2007 the first post on military suicides was asking why the press wasn't on suicide watch. There are hundreds of their stories on the post. The next day the post about Army suicides being at a 26 year high went up.

The report, obtained by The Associated Press ahead of its scheduled release Thursday, found there were 99 confirmed suicides among active duty soldiers during 2006, up from 88 the previous year and the highest since the 102 suicides in 1991 at the time of the Persian Gulf War.

The suicide rate for the Army has fluctuated over the past 26 years, from last year's high of 17.3 per 100,000 to a low of 9.1 per 100,000 in 2001.

Last year, "Iraq was the most common deployment location for both (suicides) and attempts," the report said.

The 99 suicides included 28 soldiers deployed to the two wars and 71 who weren't. About twice as many women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan committed suicide as did women not sent to war, the report said

The support this bill got was about the same as the Clay Hunt Bill but as you can see, had this bill worked the way we were all told it would, then would we need another bill all these years later? Would we need so many graves filled? Oh, let's not forget to wonder why the real news about older veterans being the majority of the suicides and attempted suicides seems to keep escaping the press mentioning it because if they remind folks then it would only go to show how much the people in charge suck at what they do.

If this helps them sleep at night, I don't give a shit. I haven't had a good nights sleep in years.


Here are a few more

Schumer backs Hall's bill for PTSD Veterans
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 18, 2009
SCHUMER INTRODUCES GROUNDBREAKING VETERAN'S HEALTH BILL; WILL AFFECT OVER 150,000 IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS WHO HAVE YET TO BE TREATED FOR POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Study Finds One In Five Of Our Nation's Veterans Suffer From PTSD And Over Half Of Current Iraq And Afghanistan Soldiers Afflicted Have Gone Without Treatment

Stringent VA Policies Require Vets to Tie Post Traumatic Stress Disorder To Specific Incident Before Receiving Treatment

Schumer Introduces Legislation That Will Free Vets From Onerous "Burden Of Proof" Regulations, Help Treat the 1.8 Million Service Members Deployed Since 2001

Congressman Paul Hodes Introduces Suicide Prevention Legislation for Reservists and National Guard
June 11, 2009
Washington, DC--- Congressman Paul Hodes introduced legislation that would implement the Connect/Frameworks Suicide Post-vention Program which trains key service providers and community members to provide an integrated community response to reduce risk and promote healing in the aftermath of a suicide.

Effective post-vention is an essential component of suicide prevention, and the legislation recognizes that post-vention training should be incorporated into any comprehensive suicide prevention effort.

"It is tragic that our service members who sacrifice for our country don’t have all the necessary resources to deal with post traumatic stress and confront suicide prevention," Congressman Paul Hodes. "This program has proven successful for the New Hampshire National Guard and I believe it can be successful to prevent suicides for National Guard members and Reservists across the country."

The focus of the training is to create an integrated, coordinated community response that
(1) enhances collaboration and coordination to provide the most effective intervention
(2) assures outreach and prevention through rapid and comprehensive communication, including best
practices, safe messaging, appropriate memorial services, and media guidelines; and,
(3) engages resources to help survivors and the community with grieving and healing.

Soldier Suicides, An Epidemic We Must Defeat
By CONGRESSMAN JIM MCDERMOTT
August 1, 2012
Every day an active-duty member of our Armed Forces commits suicide.
To emphasize the silent, tragic epidemic that is sweeping across the U.S. military, consider this one statistic, which was brought to light in a recent TIME magazine article: “More U.S. military personnel have died by suicide since the war in Afghanistan began than have died fighting there.”
Let me rephrase that, just to make sure you understood the above statistic: Since the start of the Afghanistan war in 2001, there have been more soldier suicides than soldier combat deaths.
It’s not as though the Pentagon has been doing nothing on this issue. They have been working to address the epidemic of soldier suicides through research, by setting up hotlines, expanding outreach programs, and increasing access to mental health services.
Yet, we are still seeing a suicide per day.
Clearly, these efforts aren’t hitting their mark. Suicide is an extremely complex problem and we do not have all the answers, but one thing we do know is that the Pentagon must do better.
On July 19, with bipartisan support, I helped to increase the Pentagon’s suicide prevention budget by $10 million in the defense annual budget that passed the U.S. House. It is my hope that in moving forward, the Pentagon will consider two important changes when spending this part of their budget to ensure that the most effective suicide prevention strategies are carried out.