PTSD Awareness: We Suck At Giving Real Help

What You Didn't Learn During PTSD Awareness Month 
Combat PTSD Wounded Times 
Kathie Costos 
July 1, 2017

There are so many things that you probably did not learn during PTSD Awareness Month. If we are ever going to start getting rid of the stigma of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, it is time the facts came out and the bumper sticker slogans stopped being the center of attention. 

When all has been said and done, the facts remain veterans are still killing themselves after risking their lives in combat, in service to this country and for each other.

Fact 1
The lives of others mattered so much, they were willing to die for them. These same men and women could no longer believe they mattered and no one would fight for them. 

Fact 2
While the size of the military has gone down, suicides have not gone down accordingly, nor have they reflected any of the "efforts" in prevention working.

Fact 3
Majority of veterans in this country are over the age of 50.

Fact 4
Majority of the suicides, 65% are over the age of 50.

Fact 5
Suicide rate among veterans going to the VA are lower than among those who do not.

Fact 6
There are over 400,000 charities claiming to help veterans but if they say anything at all about what they are doing, almost every new charity is not doing anything for the majority of our veterans.

Fact 7
Most of these "charities" are sending veterans to others for help, if they send them at all. The best way to help a veteran is with Peer Support but only if the one giving the support knows the facts and how to help. It does not work if you think that a Facebook post or text is all that is being given.

Fact 8
Congress keeps writing bills that are the replication of other ones they passed and funded during the past decade when there are absolutely no beneficial results and did not fund what worked.

Fact 9
No wound is any different from any other wound caused by any other war.

Fact 10
When it comes to taking care of our veterans, we suck at it!

VA Suicide Report 2016 Key findings from this year’s report include: 
 In 2014, an average of 20 Veterans died by suicide each day. Six of the 20 were users of VHA services. 
 In 2014, Veterans accounted for 18 percent of all deaths by suicide among U.S. adults and constituted 8.5 percent of the U.S. adult population (ages 18+). In 2010, Veterans accounted for 20.2 percent of all deaths by suicide and represented 9.7 percent of the U.S. adult population. 
 The burden of suicide resulting from firearm injuries remains high. In 2014, about 67 percent of all Veteran deaths by suicide were the result of firearm injuries. 
 There is continued evidence of a high burden of suicide among middle-aged and older Veterans. In 2014, about 65 percent of all Veterans who died by suicide were age 50 or older. 
 After adjusting for differences in age and gender, risk for suicide was 21 percent higher among Veterans when compared with U.S. civilian adults. (2014)  After adjusting for differences in age, risk for suicide was 18 percent higher among male Veterans when compared with U.S. civilian adult males. (2014) 
 After adjusting for differences in age, risk for suicide was 2.4 times higher among female Veterans when compared with U.S. civilian adult females. (2014)  In 2014, rates of suicide were highest among younger Veterans (ages 18–29) and lowest among older Veterans (ages 60+). Furthermore, rates of suicide among Veterans age 70 and older were lower than rates of suicide among civilians in the same age group.