Aside from not knowing how many we lost to suicide for 2014 by March of 2015, we need to think about simple facts.
2012 was after war in Iraq was over. It was the highest on record after the DOD began "prevention" programs that were supposed to actually prevent suicides in 2007. Numbers went up and the continued the same "efforts" under different titles. Battlemind and then Comprehensive Soldier Fitness. The number of deployments into Afghanistan has been reduced to the point where most Americans believe the war in Afghanistan is over as well as Iraq.
While veterans are committing suicide double the civilian rate, with most of them being over 50 years old, younger veterans are committing suicide triple their peer rate. The DOD "trained" them and is no longer responsible for accounting for them.
When you add all this up together, the DOD says there are less committing suicide but the reality is, less is often more.
Yes the military started "Prevention" measures in 2012. It was TOO LATE for my daughter but her chain of command had access to her military records, knowing she was entering a non combat unit after spending 15 months in combat. They did NOT exercise "due DILLIGENCE" when she returned to active duty after a suicide attempt and 11 days in Landstuhl Hospital. The European Cmndr LTG Hertling visited my daughter in the hospital. But when she immediately returned to active duty, there was no suicide watch, ever! In fact she was moved to an ISOLATED FLOOR in the barracks with NO ROOM MATE, and was NEVER CHECKED ON. I Have learned the truth I have learned exactly what happened because two for my comrades who were with her in the band and chorus came forward to tell me their stories of truth. I know what happen I know she was epically failed! I have also since learned, from a friend of mine who is the suicide prevention coordinator in Germany, that the same commanding general who visited my daughter in the hospital after she died took every step possible to prevent their suicide prevention program. All I see is a lot of lip service and no real support system being built for those on active duty who had been to combat and that is where I focus my awareness.
ReplyDeleteMargy, keep up the good fight for all of them! You are giving grieving families a voice!
ReplyDeleteTY...as are YOU❤️🇺🇸💔
ReplyDeleteAnd the same to you!
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