75% of military attempted suicides committed after treatment

I am making this really, really large so that no one can miss this. They answered their own question right at the bottom.

In suicides, Army faces steepest challenge
Army Times
By Michelle Tan
Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Sep 25, 2012

Facing an enemy it can’t seem to defeat, the Army continues to lose more soldiers to suicide than to combat in Afghanistan.

So far this year, the Army has reported 212 suspected suicides — 132 active-duty soldiers and 80 National Guard or Army Reserve soldiers who were not on active duty when they died.

During the same time period, January through August, the Army lost 171 soldiers in Afghanistan. In FY2011 there were more than 1,000 known suicide attempts.

Army leaders don’t know why the service is seeing a spike in 2012, Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno told Army Times.

The Army reported 28 active-duty soldier suicides in July, a record high monthly total.

“Why has it spiked this year? Is it because we’re coming down off the number of deployments? Does it have to do with soldiers who had existing problems, problems that weren’t taken care of? We don’t know,” he said. “It’s something that we keep trying to figure out, but we don’t know the answer yet.”

• 75 percent of those who attempted suicide were seen somewhere in the outpatient health care system within 30 days before their suicide attempt.
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I know I'm starting to sound just like them when I repeat and repeat what the problem is, so I won't do it here. Watch my videos and you'll see it. Read my book and you'll know it. Read this blog and you'll know that all of this has been predicted year after year since 2001!

I still have to tell parents after they buried a son or daughter after suicide why it happened. They work hard to understand something they should have known all along but the military does a shitty job of telling them.

Alternative Treatments for PTSD

Alternative Treatments for PTSD
Treatment Types for PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
by Emily

Doctors have been studying alternative treatment for PTSD for some time now. Acupuncture, meditation, and even K-9 companions are all some of the methods being employed and studied by more open-minded physicians and patients. There have been multiple studies by very reputable sources suggesting the effectiveness of alternative treatments for PTSD. The pentagon spent $5 million researching yoga, meditation, and animal companions as treatment for PTSD. PTSD is a diverse order, and thus requires diversity in treatment.

Acupuncture is a widely regarded, yet still largely unknown treatment method for PTSD. In the study, “Acupuncture for post-traumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled pilot trial,” by physicians Hollifield M, Sinclair lian, Warner TD, Hammerschlag R, they concluded; “Acupuncture may be an efficacious and acceptable nonexposure treatment option for PTSD.” Jillian L Capodice LAc reports in her article “Acupuncture and [PTSD]” that 14 out of 16 patients self-reported reduced symptoms, in a non-clinical trial.

Expediency is another possible benefit of acupuncture treatment. Army psychiatric specialist, Col. Charles Engel, revealed that some early research seemed to imply that when soldiers with PTSD were treated with acupuncture, “improvements were relatively rapid and clinically significant.” Obviously there’s a lot of research to be done in order to discover the efficiency in which PTSD can be treated by acupuncture, but the need for research into this option is evident.

Use of mantram repetition, which is a form of meditation, also seemed to indicate a successful impact on relieving the symptoms of PTSD. As part of the “Veterans Health Administration Office Of Patient Are Services Technology Assessment Program” Elizabeth Adams, MPH, put together an article entitled “Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.” The article suggests that use of mantram repetition, saw 86% of program participants report “moderate to high satisfaction. The article concluded “Mantram is a promising, complementary intervention for treatment of PTSD in older Veterans, and Veterans were satisfied with the program. Further research in larger RCTs is warranted.”

Angel Morrow’s an Army Sgt. who worked on the front-lines as a medic. She saw a heart-breaking amount of death, but it was when a fellow soldier she had treated for PTSD, took his own life outside her office door, she began to suffer from the disorder herself.

“I did everything I could for him,” she recounts.
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Submitted By: NamGuardianAngel on September 11, 2009 About the Video: When National Guards go to Iraq or Afghanistan, they serve with the regular military but have to come home, back to police departments, fire departments and responding to natural traumatic events. What we don't think about is that they are also bring the war back home inside of them, but doing what they always do. Being there when we need them.

Double-Amputee Vietnam Veteran’s Van Stolen On Staten Island

Double-Amputee Vietnam Veteran’s Van Stolen On Staten Island
Vet: 'I Lost My Legs And I Moved On...It's Part Of The Game'
September 24, 2012

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – A Vietnam veteran who lost both of his legs in a land mine explosion has lost his ability to get around after thieves stole his specially outfitted minivan Friday night.

Mike Sulsona, 60, told CBS 2′s John Slattery that he relies on his eight-year-old van for transportation every day.

The Graniteville, Staten Island resident said the minivan was outfitted with special hand controls so he could drive it.

Sulsona said the van was stolen from right outside his apartment.
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Congressman Calls Vet Jobs Bill Unfair, Wasteful

The fact is Senator Coburn must not pay attention much. After all, the unemployment rate for veterans did go down but since most of the members of the military end up staying in public service jobs, this bill would have given them the chance to do it. It would have given them the chance to go into the line of work they love to do. Police officers/law enforcement, firefighters and EMT. They have it in their nature to want to do for others but killing this Bill just took that chance away from them and there is no excuse Coburn can use to explain what he just did to them when he could have done something for them!

Congressman Calls Vet Jobs Bill Unfair, Wasteful
Sep 25, 2012
Military.com
by Bryant Jordan

A Senator who helped block a vote last week on the Veterans Jobs Corps bill says he opposed the law in part because it would have duplicated existing federal jobs programs and given post-9/11 vets an unfair advantage over other veterans in targeted fields. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., said there are six veterans’ jobs training programs under the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor that should be consolidated under the VA. Coburn said the programs are not working, citing the Government Accountability Office’s conclusion that overlaps in various programs result in inefficiencies.

“Instead of creating a new program we owe it to our veterans and taxpayers to understand why what we are already doing isn’t producing results,” Coburn said.

Under an amendment to the bill offered by Coburn, the six programs – the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program, the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project, the Local Veterans Employment Representative Program, the Transition Assistance Program, the Veterans Workforce Investment Program and the Vocational Rehabilitation for Disabled Veterans Program – would have been placed under the VA and reviewed to ensure they’re working.

However, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., the majority leader, would not allow amendments, Coburn said.
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Fort Hood soldier killed in fire after car accident

Overnight Accident Kills One Man in Harker Heights
Posted: Sep 24, 2012
KCEN News

UPDATE:The victim in the vehicle that crashed and caught fire on Highway 190 last night has been identified as 21-year-old Jong Dal Lee.

He was a soldier stationed at Fort Hood.

(KCEN) -- An overnight accident in Harker Heights shut down part of U.S. 190 Westbound near the Knight's Way exit. One man died in that accident.

Around midnight last night police were called out to a one-vehicle accident at Highway 190 and FM 2410 where they found the vehicle completely in flames.

A vehicle hit a pillar and burst into flames. There was one man in the car at the time of the accident. He was killed. His identity is being withheld until his family is notified but it was confirmed that he was a 21-year-old soldier.
read more here and check for updates

Dallas VA hospital forced to care for ex-Marine after CBS News asked questions

Injured Vet Turned Away By VA Hospital In Dallas
By Jack Douglas Jr. and Jason Allen
CBS 11 News
September 24, 2012

CROWLEY (CBSDFW.COM) – Justin Trivett says he is in excruciating pain. And he certainly looks the part, as he lays flat on the floor, cushioned only by a pool float – in a room that use to be for his newborn child – until his back went completely out.

It is in this corner, inside his home in Crowley, where the ex-Marine spends his hours, within reach of pain pills, still waiting for the Dallas VA Medical Center in Dallas to help him.

So far, after nearly three weeks, the pills are about all Trivett says he has gotten from the Department of Veterans Affairs, despite seeking some sort of relief from the VA’s health care facilities in Dallas, Fort Worth and near Granbury.

“That’s their answer to everything … dope ‘em up and send ‘em out,” the 27-year-old Trivett told CBS 11 News in an exclusive interview.

He said weeks have passed since he was told a VA back specialist would be in contact with him. That didn’t actually occur until an hour after a CBS 11 News team went to the VA hospital in Dallas to ask about Trivett’s care.

A hospital spokesman then followed up by emailing a statement to CBS 11, indicating it did not feel Trivett’s level of pain warranted immediate assistance on the day he went there — assisted by family members because he could not walk into the hospital on his own.
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New Navy Chiefs step into role of senior expert, leader

New Navy Chiefs step into role of senior expert, leader
1st Marine Division
Story by Sgt. Jacob Harrer


MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – A graduating class of chief petty officers stand at attention after being pinned with the anchor rank insignia by friends and family. Each chief wears a tan combination cover that was placed on his head by a mentor who has guided him through a six-week induction course. It is a Navy ceremony rife with centuries-old traditions.

A Navy bell sounds attention. A whistle blows, and the newly promoted chief petty officers walk down the red carpet, saluting two columns of sailors standing as “sideboys.” The red carpet with sideboys is usually for officers and special guests; chief petty officers are the only enlisted sailors afforded this honor. By walking down the aisle, chief petty officers are officially “welcomed aboard.”

The elaborate promotion ceremony symbolizes a major transition in the career of sailors, said Senior Chief Petty Officer Pete E. Torres, the Field Medical Battalion operations chief and the co-chair of the chief petty officer induction committee. After many years of learning their crafts and coming up through the ranks, the new chiefs enter into a fraternity with the most knowledgeable and experienced enlisted sailors in the Navy.
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If you want to see what this ceremony is like, I filmed this one at the Reserve Center in Orlando. While the ceremony lasted a lot longer, here are the highlights.

Published on Sep 15, 2012 by Kathie Costos DiCesare
7 new Navy Chief Petty Officers were pinned today in Orlando at the Reserve Center with a couple of really funny moments.

Suicide Prevention Fund has a surplus?

Suicide Prevention Fund has a surplus?

Sometimes I am at the point where when I read something like this first thing in the morning, I want to shut down the computer and watch the cartoon network to put me in a better mood.

I know I can't do that because of reports like this.

Military has Suicide Prevention Fund Surplus
Shaun Knittel
Online News Editor
20 September 2012


Congressman Jim McDermott (WA-7) and Congressman Leonard Boswell (IA-3) urged leaders of the U.S. House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee this week, to work with them in getting the Pentagon to use all of its unspent suicide prevention funds to reach more service members as soon as possible, and to go even further with higher funding next year.

In July, the McDermott-Boswell amendment that would increase critical funding for suicide prevention for active duty military by $10 million passed with strong support in the House Defense Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2013.

“The Pentagon hasn’t spent the money that it has for suicide prevention for this year – and that money wasn’t nearly enough money to reach all the soldiers who need help. Now we are hearing about bureaucratic technicalities at the Pentagon that are preventing them from acting. This is unconscionable,” said Congressman McDermott. “The Pentagon is funded to help soldiers and needs to do much more on the epidemic of suicides. As we commemorate National Suicide Prevention Week, we are calling on the Pentagon to move much faster.”

Congressman Boswell added, “We lose a soldier to suicide every day, a record pace that is driving the number of military suicides to all-time highs. As I said on the House floor in July, this is a national epidemic that requires immediate Congressional action to provide the necessary resources to prevent these tragedies from happening. With this year’s defense appropriations legislation at a standstill, and only days remaining in the legislative calendar, we urge leaders to act on freeing up the existing funds for soldier suicide prevention and outreach.”
read more here

This is the comment I left.

Wounded Times · Editor, Publisher and Videographer at Wounded Times Blog

If they really want to do something, the first thing they need to do is stop funding programs that have not worked. I track all of this across the country and can tell you, in 5 years, it has been one failure after another. The troops are not hearing what they need to know to fight PTSD and the families don't know what they can to to help them heal. Outreach is great but if the person doing it is not trained to do it, then it is worse than useless. I'm more upset about what has been done than money left over.

If they really wanted to prevent most of the suicides then they need to repeat what has worked and end what has not.

Resiliency Training is the biggest culprit of all. When you tell a young soldier/Marine/Airman/Sailor, they can train their brains to be mentally tough, that translates into telling them they are mentally weak and PTSD is their fault for not training right. Don't believe me? Ask them. I've held enough Marines in my arms as they cry and apologize for not training right. There are some parts of this program that are good but by the time they do get to hear what they should, they have turned of their ears.

They need to know exactly what PTSD is, understand why they ended up being attacked by it, be able to talk to their peers as soon as they need to, have medical care that includes a hell of a lot more than just medication, have support of leaders and above all, be able to return to family members with as much knowledge as they need to help them heal.

Their minds need help just as much as their bodies but the key is spiritual healing or nothing else will work as well as it should.

The poll up on the sidebar of this blog asks if Congress should be held accountable or not. So far, most feel they should be. It will be up until Veterans Day for that reason alone! Army focus on military suicides or more of the same

ARMY WIFE AND SOLDIER HUSBAND HAVE TEARFUL REUNION

MUST WATCH: ARMY WIFE AND SOLDIER HUSBAND HAVE TEARFUL REUNION ON STAGE AT TOBY KEITH CONCERT
Posted on September 24, 2012
by Jason Howerton

In arguably one of the most touching moments of the year, country singer Toby Keith surprised the wife of a soldier fighting in Afghanistan by reuniting her with her husband on stage during one of his concerts.

After pulling the surprised woman on stage during a Sept. 8 show in Houston, Texas, Keith began to play his hit song “American Soldier,” dedicating it to her husband, Maj. Pete Cruise (or Cruz, spelling wasn’t provided), who the woman thought was still in Afghanistan.
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Fort Hood soldier charged in fatal shooting

Fort Hood soldier charged in fatal shooting, police say
Monday, September 24, 2012, 04:00 PM
From the Killeen Police Department

Killeen Police arrested a Fort Hood Soldier who was involved in the death of another Fort Hood Soldier on Sunday, September 23, 2012.

Officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 2800 block of Cantabrian Dr. on Sunday, September 23, 2012 just after 10:00pm. Upon the officers arrival at 2807 Cantabrian #B, they found a male suffering from a gunshot wound to his face and two other males at the residence.
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