Is Awareness Fueling Suicide Triggers?

Is Awareness Fueling Suicide Triggers?
Combat PTSD Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
June 11, 2018

Right now there are more people talking about suicides, and more people trying to prevent their own, at the same time more are doing it? Who does this make sense to? If it make sense to anyone at all, they need to seek professional help...fast!

A report on NBC about the rise in calls to crisis lines mention this part.

Draper said the reason for the uptick is two-fold: a celebrity suicide can trigger suicidal thoughts in people who might already vulnerable to them, and publicizing the phone number to call for support increases odds that people will call.

Is it good that people are calling for help, or is it bad that with so many looking for help, seeing the rise is suicides on the flip side is worse?

How many times have you seen a commercial with happy people as the announcer talks about the medical condition making their lives miserable, followed by warnings of how the medication being advertised could make them suicidal? How many times does it take for reporters and researchers to begin to link any of them to the rise in suicides across American?

How many times do you have to read reports on opioid abuse before researchers share their warnings with reporters working on suicides?

How many times does it take before reporters understand the effects of "Lariam, an anti-malarial drug" connected to suicides as well as murders?

How many times does it take for reports from the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to release the suicide numbers before reporters actually understand they are two totally different reports?

How many times does it take for the reporters in this country to correct the false narrative of awareness on anything when they have been oblivious for the last decade?

The awareness folks like to trim everything down to a soundbite, a slogan, a stunt, as long as they do not have to answer any questions. Reporters have been all too willing to oblige them. 

Are these "awareness" risers triggering veterans instead of helping them? I mean, what it looks like when you are on the other end of the topic, knowing they don't seem to offer hope while feeding despair, is they really don't care at all.

When someone offers understanding, like on the Crisis lines, then you believe you do matter and that gives you an understanding that you are not only worth helping, but had someone to help you.

So when does the public get the dire warnings of suicides the same way drug companies are required to do when selling their products?

How about selling...no, make that giving, hope back to those who have lost it? Isn't that what gets you up every morning with hope that it will be better than yesterday was?

Suicidal veteran shot by police...charged?

Bradenton Beach cop cleared in shooting suicidal veteran. But now the veteran is facing charges
Bradenton News
Jessica DeLeon
June 4, 2018

The veteran served 26 years as a U.S. Marine and completed five tours, McIntosh explained. 

"It's sinful that we aren't doing a better way as a country to take care of these people who come back and are dealing with this," McIntosh said. "To add injury to insult to this Marine, he gets released after he finally gets stabilized physically and mentally, and they come arrest him. I don't get that."

A Bradenton Beach police officer was cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting of a man who was suicidal and charged at the officer with a knife and a hatchet in December — a tactic commonly called suicide by cop.

The Palmetto man is now charged with aggravated assault against that officer.

On the night of Dec. 30, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office received a call from Douglas Schofield's sister reporting that he appeared to be suicidal. The sheriff's office was able to trace the location of his cellphone to Anna Maria Island. Deputies and police officers from Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach saturated the island until they found Schofield's gray Honda Civic.

The Honda Civic, with Schofield sitting inside, was found at the intersection of Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue by Bradenton Beach police officer Eric Hill, Holmes Beach Chief of Police William Tokajer, officer Christine LeBranche and sheriff's deputy Amy Leach.

"But for the life of me, I cannot understand why we haven't come up with better techniques for handling a situation where someone tells us that they are trying to commit suicide," McIntosh said.

Schofield nearly died and spent weeks recovering at a hospital, according to his attorney. He was then transferred to the VA Hospital, where he was able to seek mental heath assistance he needed.
read more here

Soldier attempted suicide, kicked out and saw hope killed

Veterans with offenses struggling to find jobs
The Associated Press
By JENNIFER McDERMOTT
May 26, 2018

"You may as well be a felon when you're looking for a job," said Iraq War veteran Kristofer Goldsmith, who said the Army gave him a general discharge in 2007 because he attempted suicide.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Military veterans who were discharged for relatively minor offenses say they often can't get jobs, and they hope a recent warning to employers by the state of Connecticut will change that.

In this May 9, 2018 photo, Iraq War veteran Kristofer Goldsmith, sits in a campus park after his last final exam of the semester at Columbia University in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

The state's human-rights commission told employers last month that they could be breaking the law if they discriminate against veterans with some types of less-than-honorable discharges. Blanket policies against hiring such veterans could be discriminatory, the commission said, because the military has issued them disproportionately to black, Hispanic, gay and disabled veterans.

At least one other state, Illinois, already prohibits hiring discrimination based on a veteran's discharge status, advocates say, but Connecticut appears to be the first to base its decision on what it deems discrimination by the military.
read more here

Marine Veteran credits Veterans Court with lifeline

After 3 suicide attempts, Marine veteran turns life around and graduates from veterans court
WDRB News
Fallon Glick
Posted: May 17, 2018

“Two overdoses and a car accident that I tried," Reidinger said. "The overdoses didn't work. I don't know how. They should have ... big time. And then on I-65, I drove into a median."

NEW ALBANY, Ind. (WDRB) -- A Marine Corps veteran from southern Indiana tried committing suicide three times before finally getting the help he desperately needed.

It was the darkest time in Brian Reidinger's life.

But those times were a stark difference from just years earlier when he proudly served in the United States Marine Corps.

“I fell in love," Reidinger said. "I was good at it. I succeeded in it."

Within a year of joining, he was deployed to combat in Iraq.

“I excelled in it. I was really good at it," he said. "I was good under pressure. I was good at making decisions, I was good at protecting my marines, and they were good at protecting me."

After Reidinger got out of the Marines, he moved back home and felt lost.

“One of the worst things you can tell a Marine, a combat Marine, is that you're not the same," he said. "Because we know we're not the same. It sucks being reminded of it, and I was just depressed."

He developed a drinking problem that turned into an opioid pill problem, which later turned into a heroin problem.

“It ruined my life," he said. "It took over everything."

Reidinger was in and out of jail. But then he finally accepted help through Veteran's Treatment Court of Southern Indiana.

“Which was one of the best things to ever happen to me," he said. "If it wasn't for them, I'd be dead today."
read more here

What is wrong with this report? This!

WGME News blew suicide report, no shocker
Combat PTSD Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
May 10, 2018

Chock this one up to a powerful story ruined by a reporter not knowing anything about the subject he just called an "emotional plea" to prevent suicides. 

What is wrong with this report? This!

"According to a statistic released by the military, 22 veterans are dying because of suicide every day."

WGME needs a lesson on the difference between the "military" and the "veterans" they just reported on. The DOD=Department of Defense, and they do release a suicide report every quarter, but since reporters stopped covering that, here is the link to the average of 500 service members taking their own lives every year, counted by the military, but not anyone else.

Here is the link to the suicide report from the VA on veterans committing suicide, with the "22 a day" and the simple fact that number came from just 21 states, and limited data.

This is how much this report cost the tax payers.

"The cumulative cost of the State Mortality Data Project has been $46,771.29 as of 11/16/2012; including FY12 expenditures of $35,094.23 and FY13 expenditures of $11,677.06. All cost associated with the State Mortality Data Project are related to state fees for processing and delivery of mortality data."

All that for a report that was not complete.

"To date, data from twenty-one (21) states have been cleaned and entered into a single integrated file containing information on more than 147,000 suicides and 27,062 reported Veterans. In addition to the issues identified above, barriers to full project implementation include inconsistent availability of requested information in all states, barriers to providing non-resident data and sending preference to provide de-identified data due to conflicting interpretations of Social Security laws. Negotiations with states are continuing as we begin requesting more recent years’ data as well as renewing or revising previously completed Data Use Agreements."

What makes this worse, this was on the same report,

"Estimates that the number of suicides among Veterans each day has increased, are based on information provided by 21 states and may not be generalizable to the larger Veteran population. To account for uncertainty in the estimated number of Veterans who have died from suicide each year, confidence intervals were calculated using variability in the percentage of Veterans reported among all suicides in participating states."

Ya, but a reporter told everyone that was the number and that is how all this BS got started, including dopes like me who believed it, instead of reading the report. About a year later, I finally found the report and read it. Then after the first page, I put duct tape on my head to prevent it from exploding! 

So, then we had people who not only went by the headlines, they decided they didn't even need to know anything more about any of this, but deserved millions of dollars in donation for TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THEY DID NOT EVEN BOTHER TO LEARN ANYTHING ABOUT!

OK, that rant is over. Now back to the story they news crew blew!

Here is the video on Facebook that captures a veteran, Jeff Paradis telling others they are worth living! He mentions "22 a day" as he cries pleading with other veterans to fight for their lives! 

He was visiting one of his buddies at the VA who survived to fight another day!

Truckers lined up to save a life!

Truck drivers help stop a man from committing suicide
ABC News 9
By Matthew Witkos, WJRT
Apr 25, 2018

Genesee County (WJRT) -- The powerful images have been making the rounds on social media Tuesday.

Michigan state troopers out of metro Detroit say they've done this before. Several truck drivers say they've never seen or heard of this before. But without a moment of hesitation, they would do this if called up for action.

13 semi-trucks lined up underneath a metro Detroit overpass above I-696.

State troopers put them there to shorten a fall of one man attempting suicide early Tuesday morning.

These truck drivers are always on a tight schedule and are often pulling long hours to make their stops.
read more here

Marine Colonel Who Saved Her From Life In Prison

US Army Iraq Veteran "Pays It Forward" To Marine Colonel Who Saved Her From Life In Prison
CISION PR Newswire
Military Appreciation Partnerships, Inc.
10:01 ET

SEATTLE, April 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Lt. Elizabeth Whiteside, US Army Ret., has joined a team of supporters organizing a Trending GoFundMe Campaign on behalf of Colonel Mike Whalen, co-founder of Military Appreciation Partnerships, Inc., in his time of need. Resulting from her 2007 suicide attempt in Iraq, Whiteside faced Army Court-Martial charging her with five offenses, if convicted, could result in life in Federal Prison.

Over the following year Whiteside's family, legal team, Veterans organizations, and Senators Barack Obama, Claire McCaskill, Barbara Boxer, John Kerry and Kit Bond were unable to dissuade the Army from pursuing the charges. Similarly, the national press corps support of Katie Couric, CBS Evening News plus The Washington Post's Dana Priest and Anne Hull did not stop the relentless continuation of the Court-Martial.

Through a chance meeting, Whiteside's father Tom was put in touch with Colonel Mike Whalen, a fierce and effective and lifelong Veterans' advocate. Within five days, Col. Whalen was able to convince Army brass to drop all charges against Whiteside granting her an honorable discharge with medical benefits. Upon her complete recovery, she continued her education and today is a working professional in the mental health field.

Colonel Mike Whalen has spent his entire life helping others. He has served his country proudly as a US Marine, sustaining serious injuries as a result of his service. Col. Mike has always been able to do the impossible... Producing the "Carrier Classic" college Basketball game on the deck of the Carl Vinson Aircraft Carrier... Raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Veterans and conducting morale boosting coaches, astronauts and INDY racing tours to our military in combat zones in the Middle East.

Now Col. Whalen has fallen on hard times. His injuries, shrapnel and Traumatic Brain Injury are catching up with him. He is now facing imminent eviction from his home. Upon hearing of Col. Whalen's plight, Elizabeth quickly joined up with others who have benefited from his help by sponsoring his GoFundMe account…telling his story and asking for your generosity to "Pay It Forward" in his time of need.

The GoFundMe campaign is rapidly approaching its goal with notable contributions from Mario Andretti, Houston Nutt, and other celebrities.

*******

I remember her story well. Read more about what Whiteside had to go through to understand how much this means to her...and many more.

The system failed Marine Michael Veillette

Suicidal Veteran Shot By Waterbury Police The Waterbury Observer
Story By John Murray
Thu, 03/22/2018

Released From Protective Custody Day Before Shooting

On three consecutive days a former United States Marine, Michael Veillette, went up to Holy Land USA to commit suicide, and each time his plan was foiled. 

The first attempt was thwarted by the compassion and love of a Marine Corps buddy, the second time he was arrested for carrying a pistol with an expired permit, and the third time he was shot in the hip by a Waterbury police officer and arrested again on a slew of charges. Inbetween the arrests Veillette was committed and evaluated at St. Mary’s Hospital, and released.

Tormented by PTSD from two tours of duty in Iraq, and depression, Veillette wanted out. He had intended to climb atop the hill at Holy Land USA and shoot himself at the base of the massive cross that overlooks Waterbury. This morning Veillette is in stable condition and will be arraigned at St. Mary's Hospital when the legal system delivers a judge, prosecutor, court reporter and public defender to conduct legal proceedings in his hospital room.

It didn't have to come to this. Veillette was in police and hospital custody on Tuesday night charged only with an expired pistol permit. Releasing a depressed suicidal veteran after three hours raises serious questions.

"The system failed Michael Veillette," said Brian Warren, a former U.S. Marine who served with Veillette in Iraq, and the man who talked his friend out of committing suicide Monday night. "Michael served his country with honor and needed help. He had tried to kill himself two days in a row. Why did the hospital release him with a serious mental health issue? He could have killed a cop. This was an epic mistake."read more here

This is pretty much how the rest of the press reported it.

State police: Waterbury police shoot armed man
FOX 61 News
BY BOBBY MARTINEZ AND JIM MCKEEVER
MARCH 21, 2018

WATERBURY — Connecticut State Police said they were called to the scene of an officer-involved shooting this afternoon.

State Police Troop A said they were alerted after Waterbury police shot an armed man around 4 p.m.

Waterbury Deputy Chief of Police Fred Spagnolo, said police came across a distraught individual carrying a shotgun at 60 Slocum Street near Holy Land in Waterbury. Spagnolo added that the man, Michael Veillette, 32, of Waterbury, was actively attempting to commit “suicide by cop.”
read more here

UK PTSD: there was NOBODY to take his desperate call for help

The crack shot who cracked up: Ice-cool sniper suffered PTSD after seeing body of his best friend killed in combat in Helmand... and there was NOBODY to take his desperate call for help
The Daily Mail
Ian Gallagher
February 10, 2018

Eventually a Medical Board dealt with his case in his absence and a decision was made to discharge him. He left the RAF last year without a pension – a decision he is appealing and which the couple describe as ‘appalling’.

The couple have never stopped campaigning for a 24-hour helpline, with Luke even invading the pitch at Liverpool’s Anfield stadium during a match in 2015 in protest at the MoD’s treatment of its soldiers

Dodging Taliban bullets in Helmand, RAF sniper Luke Huskisson drew on all his training just to stay alive.

Yet it was many months later, safely back at base in Suffolk, that the battlefield almost claimed him.

In Afghanistan, flushed with adrenaline, he was constantly tuned to life-threatening danger. Now, alone in his room, death and oblivion seemed enticing.

Speaking to The Mail on Sunday, Luke recalls: ‘I was getting constant flashbacks and I couldn’t take any more.’
read more here

Sailor saved from attempted suicide by crewmates

If the sailor was wondering how much his life was worth, the crew just let him know how much he does matter!

Sailor’s suicide attempt prompts heroic response by sub crew
NAVY Times
By: Geoff Ziezulewicz
January 17, 2018

“From gunshot to ambulance took about 7 hours,” Robinson said in the post. “We drove up the river in dense fog, in the dark of night, with intense rain and wind. It was the worst weather I’ve ever seen for something like this.”

The crew of the submarine North Dakota leapt into action after a petty officer attempted suicide by shooting himself in the chest. (Chief Mass Communication Specialist Peter D. Lawlor/Navy)

The crew of the submarine North Dakota raced through bad weather to save a shipmate’s life after an unidentified petty officer shot himself in the chest with his military-issued rifle while the vessel was underway, according to Navy officials and a post on the boat’s Facebook page.

Cmdr. Mark Robinson, the boat’s captain, praised his crew in the post for their feverish efforts on Friday to get the sailor back to land.

Corpsmen leapt into action to treat and stabilize the man’s injuries, while radiomen kept communications open in bad weather, allowing trauma doctors to remotely lend assistance, according to the post.
read more here

PTSD Female Veteran Helps Others With Open Studio and Heart

Serving her own
Albuquerque Journal
By Elaine D. Briseño / Journal Staff Writer
Published: Sunday, October 8th, 2017

"Not only did she endure all the horrors that come with combat, but lived in constant fear of being sexually assaulted again."

Sitting on the floor of her KD Neeley studio, Katie Neeley, 33, looks through a sketchbook she kept while she was serving in the military. Neeley uses the gallery space to host fundraisers for local nonprofit groups, especially those that support veterans. (Marla Brose/Albuquerque Journal)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Katie Neeley has always considered herself an artist but said when she reached adulthood she lost her voice and inspiration.

“I got to a point in my studies where I could draw or paint anything,” she said. “But I felt like I had nothing offer. I had no life experience.”

Neeley, 33, decided joining the military would give her that life experience while giving her some direction. That decision would send her on a dark path that ended with a suicide attempt and hospitalization. Now the former Marine is using her experience, and money, to help other veterans dealing with the emotional ramifications of their military service.

The Albuquerque native opened the KD Neeley studio in the heart of Downtown and uses the gallery to not only display the work of local artists but as a place to host fundraisers. The gallery is located on Fourth Street just north of Central.
read more here

VA Counselor Helped Police End Standoff With Veteran Peacefully

Standoff with Springfield veteran, suffering from PTSD, ends peacefully

The Register Guard

Chelsea Defenbacher

October 8, 2017

SPRINGFIELD — A Department of Veterans Affairs counselor was rushed to a Springfield home Saturday by police to help a 23-year-old Army veteran in crisis, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

With the help of the counselor and a police negotiator, the man did not hurt himself and was voluntarily taken in for a police-directed mental health detention and evaluation.

The incident happened around 3 p.m. Friday, when a neighbor on 20th Street called police to report a man with a knife at a nearby home.

Springfield police arrived to find the veteran in his open garage, holding a large knife to his own throat and threatening suicide, police said.

Springfield police officers, one of whom is a trained negotiator, stood in the driveway and spoke to the man.

During that conversation, the man told police that he was a veteran with PTSD, police said.
read more here

Linked from Feedspot

Police Saved Veteran From Suicide

Police stop veteran from committing suicide at Ferndale home
MLIVE
July 21, 2017

Police prevented a man from committing suicide at a Ferndale home Friday, according to Sgt. Baron Brown.

The 41-year-old man, a military veteran, contacted several relatives indicating he would commit suicide about noon Friday...

Officers responded to the scene and established a security perimeter around the home. One of the officers who was on scene is a Marine Corps veteran and was able to communicate with the man about their service, police said.

After about two hours, police used a "distraction technique" to enter the home and secure the man, who was taken to a local hospital, said Brown, a department spokesperson.
read more here

Australia: Police Officer Finds Healing PTSD Better Than Dying

Post-traumatic stress disorder: NSW police sufferers estimated to number 1600
The Sunday Telegraph
BEN PIKE
April 8, 2017

IN a career as one of our top cops, Luke Moore had seen it all — and finally he couldn’t bear to see any more.

Suffering the debilitating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, Det Supt Moore jumped from the 13th floor of a hotel, expecting to die.

But things didn’t go according to plan. After plunging 40m, Mr Moore crashed through the lid of a skip filled with linen, cushioning his fall and saving his life.

While he shattered his pelvis, hip, and elbow and broke his leg, arm and back, he suffered no permanent brain or organ damage and is once again able to walk.

Mr Moore, 49, who remained conscious throughout the ordeal, said: “When I was laying there it was instant relief in terms of I knew that I was not going back to work.

“I knew instantly that I did not want to die. I am not a spiritual person at all but I’m very conscious of how lucky I am and what an opportunity it is to go on and live life.

“It puts in perspective how good it is to be alive.”

Now he is hoping his story will encourage others officers suffering PTSD — a crippling psychological condition that currently affects an estimated 1600 officers in NSW — to seek help.
read more here

Suicide? Don't Give Up On LIfe--Fight Back

Mental Health: Suicide ... giving up on life
Valley Star
By Ralph E. Jones
 Mental Health
Posted: Sunday, March 26, 2017

“When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” Harriet Elizabeth Beecher Stowe, American Author, 1811-1896

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 45,000 individuals commit suicide each year in the United States; that is about 121 suicides per day.

It is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. For every suicide there are 25 failed attempts, and the number of admissions to hospitals for suicidal attempts is close to 500,000 per year.

Contrary to popular belief, the rates of suicide are highest in age groups among adults ages 45-64; the majority, 7 out of 10, being males (although females have the highest numbers of suicide attempts).

Of primary concern, and the reason behind writing this article, is the growing numbers of suicides among our young people and military veterans, ages 15 to 24 in particular. The Veterans Administration reports that approximately 22 veterans commit suicide every day. These are the highest rates since the VA began keeping record of such, and is a much higher number than in the general population.

In the general population of civilians, there is a growing number of youth committing suicide as well, primarily as a result of increase use of opioids, and the resultant overdose on opioids; which has blossomed into a national crisis.

In a report released this month by the Veterans Administration, a study of veterans use of drugs and alcohol as related to suicide, it was found that Veterans who have drug and/or alcohol problems are more than twice as likely to die by suicide as their comrades; and women Veterans with substance use disorders have an even higher rate of suicide — more than five times that of their peers.
read more here

Australian Veteran's Life Saved After 5th Suicide Attempt by Daughter

'They train you to go to war, not come home'
Daily Mail
By Anneta Konstantinides For Daily Mail Australia
PUBLISHED:18 March 2017

Doctors missed mother-of-four army veteran's post traumatic stress for a decade despite FIVE suicide attempts... and how her daughter saved her life

Andrea Josephs, 43, enlisted in 1991 and served during East Timorese Crisis
Was medically discharged in 2004 following a sexual assault and court hearing
Took doctors 10 years to diagnose PTSD; mistook for postnatal depression
Andrea's final suicide attempt came in 2015 as she struggled with symptoms
Her daughter then made a tribute video to show she was proud of mum's service
Inspired idea behind Matilda Poppy, which will raise awareness for veterans

Andrea (pictured centre with her four daughters) said some of her PTSD symptoms were derived from the fear that she could not protect her girls

It was after her fifth suicide attempt that Andrea Josephs decided to choose life.

The Australian Army veteran had been battling PTSD, a diagnosis doctors failed to make for 10 years, when a film made by her daughter proved to be a turning point.

It was a tribute video that honoured not only the mother-of-four, but the soldiers, sailors and airmen and women who had put their life on the line for Australia.

The gesture was pivotal for Andrea, who had felt like she lost her identity ever since she was medically discharged from service in 2004.
read more here

Joshua Dunne Wife's Anguished 911 Call Released After Police Shooting

911 calls reveal man shot and killed by LCPD officers suffering from PTSD, argued with wife
KVIA ABC 7 News
By: Staff Report
Posted: Jan 06, 2017

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico - 911 calls obtained by ABC-7's New Mexico Mobile Newsroom reveal the man shot and killed by two Las Cruces police officers was a veteran suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Thursday, the office of District Attorney Mark D'Antonio cleared the two police officers involved in the shooting death of 36-year-old Joshua "Josh" Clay Dunne. The actions of the officers were justified, D'Antonio's office announced.

Investigators looking into the police shooting said a relative told officers Dunne was possibly suicidal and could have been armed with a 9 mm handgun and a hunting knife.

In a call to 911, Dunne's wife, Melanie Dunne, told the operator she and her husband "had an argument. He is a veteran who has PTSD and has been suicidal before."

Melanie Dunne also said her husband "told me not to call the police because he would get into a shootout with the cops." The woman went on to tell the operator her husband had a 9mm handgun and a "sharp hunting knife."
read more here

Man Shot By Police After Crisis Call Survived in San Antonio

Police: Man shot after pointing gun at officer
FOX SAN ANTONIO
BY ZACK HEDRICK
OCTOBER 8TH 2016

"They need to find a purpose. They need to find their passion again. Just like we had a mission while in uniform, they need to find that elsewhere.” Richard Delgado

Police: Man shot after pointing gun at officer (Photo: Sinclair Broadcast Group)

SAN ANTONIO -- Police say a man armed with a gun who was trying to commit suicide was shot by an officer at a North Side.

Police say the call came in some time before six Saturday morning from Ballerina Court, which is just off Wetmore Road.

"It was a call for a man attempting to commit suicide,” said Chief Williams McManus. “It was called in by his wife."

The 39-year old man, who officers say is a veteran, was in the backyard when police arrived.

“He was there with a gun to his head,” said McManus. “He put the gun down, picked it back up, and pointed it at the officers. The officer at that time felt compelled to fire in fear for his life."

The veteran was hit once in the arm but police say he is in good condition.
read more here

PTSD and TBI Veterans May Get New Deal on Discharges

Lawmakers urge defense bill to help less-than-honorable discharges
THE HILL
Rebecca Kheel
9-13-2016

Kristofer Goldsmith, an Army veteran who served in Iraq, said he was discharged after attempting suicide by overdosing on Percocet and vodka.

A bipartisan group of nine lawmakers joined with leading veterans groups Tuesday to call for the final version of a defense policy bill to include language aimed at making it easier for veterans who were discharged for behavior related to mental health issues to upgrade their discharges.

“We are very close to making sure that these service men and women get the help that they need, and we’re going to make it a reality in the next weeks,” said Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), whose Fairness for Veterans Act was included in the Senate-passed version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The provision in the Senate version would require discharge review boards to provide “liberal consideration” to the diagnosis of a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) or military sexual assault when considering whether to upgrade a less-than-honorable discharge.

The House-passed version does not include that provision. Conferees are in the process of reconciling the two versions of the bill.

Advocates say thousands of veterans have received “bad discharge papers” as a result of behavior associated with PTSD, TBI or sexual trauma. Such discharges haunt veterans for the rest of their lives, advocates say, denying them veterans benefits and casting a stigma that can affect aspects of civilian life, such as finding employment.

read more here

Veteran Lives to Tell What Drove Him to Suicide to Save Others

Why veterans die by suicide, and how to stop it
Military Times
By Kristofer Goldsmith
Special to Military Times
August 16, 2016

A veteran joins others to place flags representing veterans and service

members who had died by suicide in 2014 on the National Mall in Washington.

(Photo: Charles Dharapak/AP)

Try to picture a veteran who has recently chosen to take his own life, and you’ll probably think of someone like me: a 20-to-30-something man who served in Iraq or Afghanistan. That’s a result of countless hours spent by advocates to raise awareness about the issue.

In 2014, as a volunteer for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, I spent most of my free time advocating for the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Act. I spent the summer traveling the country telling Clay’s story to everyone who would listen in hopes of building a movement that would get Congress to finally take decisive action to address the suicide crisis in the veteran community.

I had never met Clay when he was alive, but thanks to my experience with IAVA, I now know Clay’s parents, Susan and Richard Selke. We don’t talk regularly or see each other much since the Clay Hunt bill was signed into law in early 2015, but I feel like I’ve got a unique sort of bond with them. It’s a bond that I’ve felt with lots of parents who have lost their son or daughter to suicide.

That bond exists because they see in me what they lost, and I see in them what I almost did to my own parents.

On a personal level, answering, “Why’d you try to kill yourself?” is incredibly frustrating. There was a lot going on at the time of my suicide attempt. I had been suffering from severe bouts of depression, frightening panic attacks, and paralyzing migraines — what I now understand to be the effects of severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

What made things worse before my suicide attempt is that when I asked for help, I was treated with suspicion by my Army doctors and later chastised by my company commander for taking the antidepressants that I had been prescribed.

Despite an otherwise stellar career, I felt like I had failed as a soldier and as a man. My personal relationships were a mess. My unit went downrange without me so that I could get some emergency surgery, and I spent the next month restricted to my quarters. In that time, I quit going to therapy, and I stayed home in a dark room watching the 2007 presidential primary debates, where my buddies in Iraq seemed to have been forgotten, and I was drinking myself to sleep most nights.
read more here