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.
Veterans fight to save Upwey-Belgrave RSL after treasurer stole from club Herald Sun Ashley Argoon June 30, 2017
WAR veterans are fighting to save their local Returned and Services League, $400,000 in the red after the treasurer stole from them.
War veterans Peter Hay, 84, David Eaton, 72, and Bob Stevens, 49, worry about the future of the Upwey-Belgrave RSL. Picture: David Caird
Pokies addict Marion Mills stole from the Upwey-Belgrave RSL — which has refused to install any pokies — to spend on her gambling and drinking.
But managers fear it may not see next Anzac Day.
“We’re struggling,” Vietnam veteran and Upwey-Belgrave RSL president David Eaton said.
“The problem is you trust people and then you get burnt.”
In April, Mills, 62, was sentenced to four months’ jail, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to stealing $28,918.10 while treasurer from 2010-13.
But she had originally been accused over a sum almost three times that, and also failed to pay bills or staff superannuation, taking the total to about $400,000. read more here
Late policeman’s brother vows to help those struggling Border Mail Australia BLAIR THOMSON 1 Jul 2017
THE BROTHER of an Albury policeman who took his own life after a battle with post traumatic stress disorder is helping others in the force who are struggling.
MESSAGE: Patrick Seccull says those battling PTSD should know that there is help out there, and that life can be good despite how bad things can get fighting the illness.
Tony Seccull, 41, followed in the footsteps of his older brother Patrick when he joined NSW Police as a young man.
The father of one lost his battle at his Burrumbuttock property on February 1, leaving a gap in his large family that will always be there.
Patrick, who has also worked as an Albury policeman and has had his own fight with the disorder, said his brother died about five years to the day after his discharge from the force.
By the end of his service, Tony was worn out and just wanted to retire without the grinding stress caused by the police insurance company.
Mr Seccull links his brother’s PTSD to an incident early in his career, the full impact of which didn’t surface until a firearms training course on the Border sometime around 2010.
Tony had been stationed at Nyngan in central NSW in the early 2000s and like many times before, he was called to a domestic dispute.
But it was no ordinary call out, with a farmer firing shots from a high-powered rifle at Tony and his partner, leaving them pinned down. read more here
Family, friends to search for missing Patchogue veteran Newsday By Martin C. Evans Updated June 30, 2017
Rebecca Barra poses with a photo of her mom Janet Barra, 58, a Navy veteran living in Patchogue Tuesday, June, 28, 2017. Rebecca Barra has been missing for the past twenty-two days and is struggling with depression but always stayed in touch with her daughter. (Credit: John Roca)
Janet Barra, 58, of Patchogue, had struggled with depression since her days in the Navy but had always stayed in touch with her daughter, Rebecca.
That was until the morning of June 5, when she parked her car at a strip mall in Medford, left her purse, identification and bank card behind, and was seen on video headed north on Route 112.
She has not been seen or heard from since. read more here
Meet the country's most prominent "stolen valor" detective CBS News June 14, 2017
"It's just too great for some people. They would rather impersonate instead of actually go raise their hand and serve their country." Anthony Anderson
In 2013 "American Idol" featured a contestant with a sympathetic story.
"We were on a mission in Ramadi, Iraq, and we came across an IED, and the IED exploded," Matt Farmer said on "American Idol." Farmer served in Iraq, but was never injured in battle and later admitted "it was all lies" in a letter to the website, Guardian of Valor.
"When we outed the guy from 'American Idol', that pretty much started this whole thing," Guardian of Valor founder Anthony Anderson said.
Anderson may be the country's most prominent "stolen valor" detective. "Stolen valor" is a term applied to those who falsely claim military service, either to gain recognition or, in some cases, money. It's offensive for many Americans to think of, but it's real, and because the government often doesn't have the resources or time to investigate, private citizens pick up the slack, reports CBS News correspondent Jeff Glor.
From his South Carolina basement, Anderson works day and night separating military fact from fiction.
"We've had family members turn their own family members in. It's crazy sometimes. I've had sons turn their dads in. I've had dads turn their sons in. It's wild," Anderson said.
The website features a "Hall of Shame" and links to video confrontations.
read more here
There is another fake hunter and this is one from last year from Don Shipley
