Posted on Aug 23, 2015
Did you know The VA only takes into their accounting of suicides statistics, if or when "numbers exceed 20" and they are ranked by service?
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Did you know The VA only takes into their accounting of suicides statistics, if or when "numbers exceed 20" and they are ranked by service?
The reason this suicide was unlike any other suicide to date, is because it happened on the VA grounds with Veteran intent of doing himself harm.
#Veteran Suicide Express
by Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/veteran-suicide-express-kimberly-bolen-rn-lcm-acm-ccm?trk=pulse-det-nav_art
The VA is struggling to hire mental health practitioners, all across the board; including but not limited to Nurses and Social workers
It is Very True that many Veterans are slipping through the cracks, but it is all across America.
The reason this suicide was unlike any other suicide to date, is because it happened on the VA grounds with Veteran intent of doing himself harm.
#Veteran Suicide Express
by Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/veteran-suicide-express-kimberly-bolen-rn-lcm-acm-ccm?trk=pulse-det-nav_art
The VA is struggling to hire mental health practitioners, all across the board; including but not limited to Nurses and Social workers
It is Very True that many Veterans are slipping through the cracks, but it is all across America.
Virginia Department of Veterans Services
DAV
Suicide
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
8
8
0
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
It's not ok to say, "Only a small percentage of veterans fall through the cracks." and for us to accept and believe that is an acceptable loss. Any more than it is ok to hear someone say we can expect a 10 or 20 percent casualty loss on a specific mission because we can't get them the fire support they need. I'm tired of Soldiers dying because, "It's an acceptable percentage" whether they are in combat or at home...
There are as I've seen in posts to a discussion I started excellent V.A. hospitals and staff available to aid veterans and there are poorly managed V.A. hospitals that do nothing but add to the frustration veterans are already facing. There needs to be a set protocol for Administrative operations that will lead to all veterans receiving the same standard of care no matter what facility they are assigned to. Every V.A. facility needs to operate with the same Mission Statement. There needs to be accountability for patient care. We need to look at who is being hired to be the hospital CEOs, what is their background and how did they get there? Ultimately they are responsible for all of the hospital's operations.
On another note: This is an irreversible act of desperation. I hope anyone who is contemplating suicide understands it is a permanent fix to end whatever is wrong, it will leave your family and friends always questioning themselves and with feelings of guilt that they did not recognize your pain or understand the depth of it. This is not the way. This may have been a meant as a statement but the reality is that it's a flash in the pan, newsworthy yes but the statement that needs to be made needs to have a lasting legislative effect.
A FINAL THOUGHT: How many times did he come seeking help before he finally gave up?
It's not ok to say, "Only a small percentage of veterans fall through the cracks." and for us to accept and believe that is an acceptable loss. Any more than it is ok to hear someone say we can expect a 10 or 20 percent casualty loss on a specific mission because we can't get them the fire support they need. I'm tired of Soldiers dying because, "It's an acceptable percentage" whether they are in combat or at home...
There are as I've seen in posts to a discussion I started excellent V.A. hospitals and staff available to aid veterans and there are poorly managed V.A. hospitals that do nothing but add to the frustration veterans are already facing. There needs to be a set protocol for Administrative operations that will lead to all veterans receiving the same standard of care no matter what facility they are assigned to. Every V.A. facility needs to operate with the same Mission Statement. There needs to be accountability for patient care. We need to look at who is being hired to be the hospital CEOs, what is their background and how did they get there? Ultimately they are responsible for all of the hospital's operations.
On another note: This is an irreversible act of desperation. I hope anyone who is contemplating suicide understands it is a permanent fix to end whatever is wrong, it will leave your family and friends always questioning themselves and with feelings of guilt that they did not recognize your pain or understand the depth of it. This is not the way. This may have been a meant as a statement but the reality is that it's a flash in the pan, newsworthy yes but the statement that needs to be made needs to have a lasting legislative effect.
A FINAL THOUGHT: How many times did he come seeking help before he finally gave up?
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
CPT (Join to see) In reference to your final question I'm going to reach out to the author Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM to see if she has that information. That is a very good question.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
CPT (Join to see) here is the response I received back from Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM when I posed you question about: "A FINAL THOUGHT: How many times did he come seeking help before he finally gave up?"
From Kimberly Bolen:
Hoorah Sir.
I Concur. One is to many!
What is the legislative thought that the captain has in mind?
What facilities does he believes helps?
I do believe it must be legislative at this point in time as there are so many Psych docs that think they know it all or are burnt out or crazy themselves and they just "kick the can down the road", so to speak, when they do not know what to do, so they over medicate, fail to follow up, but will adjust dosages of medications higher, so that the side effects kick in and no one will take them after that. Which some of the side effects are suicidal thoughts, themselves due to the medication dose.
We do need standards of care that is to be practiced throughout all Veteran Facilities. However, each individual, does not have the same rationale for suicidal thoughts, plans or actions. I have not met many Military that are able or willing to stick there necks out for this standard of care or practice. (cultural divide)
But I am not Military.........
Sir, they have been trained not to feel pain, then when they come home, no one supports them and their pain is so overwhelmingly real.
This is a program that needs to begin prior to the mil being discharged to return to the Civilian arena. (Preventative)
The va is unable to treat, recognize and help Suicidal Veterans, that is one of the reasons I am here and continue to fight. They do not have Psych, that is able to assist. The suicide hotline does not work. It is a phone number, but does not assist the veteran in the emergent stage.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/suicide-painless-brings-many-changes-kimberly-bolen-rn-lnc-acm-ccm?trk=mp-reader-card
Suicide, is indeed a permanent solution to a temporary issue.
As to answer the captain directly, he fought for 3 years, 24 days 6 hours and 32 seconds. The 32 seconds, were the most powerful moments he felt in his life since his return from overseas. His suicide, was not in vane.
He has brought focus to an issue that his fellow brothers and sisters needed and more importantly was placed directly on POTUS desk for direct answer.
Hope that answered your question.
From Kimberly Bolen:
Hoorah Sir.
I Concur. One is to many!
What is the legislative thought that the captain has in mind?
What facilities does he believes helps?
I do believe it must be legislative at this point in time as there are so many Psych docs that think they know it all or are burnt out or crazy themselves and they just "kick the can down the road", so to speak, when they do not know what to do, so they over medicate, fail to follow up, but will adjust dosages of medications higher, so that the side effects kick in and no one will take them after that. Which some of the side effects are suicidal thoughts, themselves due to the medication dose.
We do need standards of care that is to be practiced throughout all Veteran Facilities. However, each individual, does not have the same rationale for suicidal thoughts, plans or actions. I have not met many Military that are able or willing to stick there necks out for this standard of care or practice. (cultural divide)
But I am not Military.........
Sir, they have been trained not to feel pain, then when they come home, no one supports them and their pain is so overwhelmingly real.
This is a program that needs to begin prior to the mil being discharged to return to the Civilian arena. (Preventative)
The va is unable to treat, recognize and help Suicidal Veterans, that is one of the reasons I am here and continue to fight. They do not have Psych, that is able to assist. The suicide hotline does not work. It is a phone number, but does not assist the veteran in the emergent stage.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/suicide-painless-brings-many-changes-kimberly-bolen-rn-lnc-acm-ccm?trk=mp-reader-card
Suicide, is indeed a permanent solution to a temporary issue.
As to answer the captain directly, he fought for 3 years, 24 days 6 hours and 32 seconds. The 32 seconds, were the most powerful moments he felt in his life since his return from overseas. His suicide, was not in vane.
He has brought focus to an issue that his fellow brothers and sisters needed and more importantly was placed directly on POTUS desk for direct answer.
Hope that answered your question.
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CPT (Join to see)
@Kimberly Bolen.
If you want to pursue this route you must:
1. Slow down, as much as you may hate it nothing is going to happen overnight.
2. Do not attack Psychologist and Psychiatrist as a group lumping them all together, it's not helpful. A better approach is to gain their support for action. Perhaps there are restrictions in place prohibiting them from properly treating patients the way they would like.
3. V.A. current standards of care are found under V.A. directive 2006-041. Look for more directives and internal correspondence.
4. Don't apply blanket statements such as "The V.A. is unable to treat, recognize..." This type of statement is to general you must be more specific and show documented cases of misdiagnosis. If none exist then you must build your own documentation and you better make sure it is honest and will stand up to the intense viewing of legal officials up to and including the supreme court. Nothing less will be sufficient.
5. Don't pull in information from unreliable sources.
6. Start small, be positive, be persistent, be passionate but don't get emotional.
7. Here is a link to health care legislation regarding standards of care. http://www.healthit.gov/policy-researchers-implementers/health-it-legislation-and-regulations
If you want to pursue this route you must:
1. Slow down, as much as you may hate it nothing is going to happen overnight.
2. Do not attack Psychologist and Psychiatrist as a group lumping them all together, it's not helpful. A better approach is to gain their support for action. Perhaps there are restrictions in place prohibiting them from properly treating patients the way they would like.
3. V.A. current standards of care are found under V.A. directive 2006-041. Look for more directives and internal correspondence.
4. Don't apply blanket statements such as "The V.A. is unable to treat, recognize..." This type of statement is to general you must be more specific and show documented cases of misdiagnosis. If none exist then you must build your own documentation and you better make sure it is honest and will stand up to the intense viewing of legal officials up to and including the supreme court. Nothing less will be sufficient.
5. Don't pull in information from unreliable sources.
6. Start small, be positive, be persistent, be passionate but don't get emotional.
7. Here is a link to health care legislation regarding standards of care. http://www.healthit.gov/policy-researchers-implementers/health-it-legislation-and-regulations
Health IT Rules and Regulations | Policy Researchers & Implementers | HealthIT.gov
Learn about the proposed and final Health IT rules and regulations that will affect the use of EHRs for eligible providers and hospitals.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs This is disturbing. As Kimberly Bolen, RN, LNC, ACM, CCM stated 1 is one too many. This article astonishes me. Having been a CID Special Agent, I saw many suicides in theater, in fact more than I care to remember. One will always stand out for me. A young PFC. She had been to Combat Stress Clinic and a psychologist and psychiatrist recommended she be sent home. Her CoC refused and further demoralized her by removing the firing pin from her weapon. Not deterred, while her battle buddy and suicide watch slept she borrowed her M16 and loaded a round she obtained from an amnesty box, shot herself, and lived long enough to crawl under her bunk dying in the fetal position. That was a life which could have and should have been spared for the trip home. After that, your guess is a good as mine, but she should have made it home.
A part of me died with her in Iraq. I pray for her family everyday. While I did not have the power to send her home and was not in her CoC, I feel guilty.
A part of me died with her in Iraq. I pray for her family everyday. While I did not have the power to send her home and was not in her CoC, I feel guilty.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS Thanks for sharing your thoughts and story!
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Suspended Profile
Until they all come home... every life lost is a tragedy and a national embarrassment. Sadly there are alternatives to VA care, but many vets don't know about them.
I work for the Soldier's Project - http://www.thesoldiersproject.org which offers free counseling to Post 9/11 vets. I offer services on line - you don't have to be local...
I work for the Soldier's Project - http://www.thesoldiersproject.org which offers free counseling to Post 9/11 vets. I offer services on line - you don't have to be local...
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
LCDR Rabbi Jaron Matlow Thanks for the additional information. Every bit helps another veteran, active duty member, and retiree and may save some lives!
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MSgt Steve Miller
I've never stepped into a VA hospital other than maybe my intake physical before bootcamp. To much bad press and no one ever really does anything about fixing the VA. They just give us a bunch of lip service of how outraged they are that vets are treated so poorly, tell us they are going to fix it and move on. Its sad that our vets are waiting months on end to see a doctor.
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