VETERANS: Suicide numbers alarming

Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs and DAV life member Eric Shinseki was the principal guest speaker at the 2009 annual National Convention of Blinded Veterans Association in Portland, Ore. During his speech he mentioned that more than 5,000 of our troops had committed suicide.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year that more of our troop losses were by suicide than enemy action. Almost one a day.

What are some of the reasons for our troops’ suicides?

• An insufficient number of military chaplains to listen to the troops’ problems (confidentially)

• 275,000 active duty troops identify as part of the Roman Catholic faith. In 2001, there were 400 active duty Catholic military chaplains; in 2011, there were 216.

• Lt. Col. Stephen Brosk, Roman Catholic priest and Air Force Reserve chaplain, is on his eighth deployment in 10 years.

• Unemployment rate for veterans of this war is more than 12 percent.

• The Veterans Administration has denied 200,000 claims for benefits (that are being resubmitted).

• The VA has an additional 800,000 first-time claims backlog.

• Each veteran returning from a combat tour to civilian life must make a psychological transition, that after multiple tours has a residual, cumulative effect.

• Additional qualified mental health specialists are needed in the health care system.

GRAHAM CRUTCHFIELD

Hayden