Soldier Suicide: what would be a Solution to You as our Military Men and Woman? What is needed most? I want to listen to your ideas.

Just provide more support outside the military. Provide training and understanding for civilians to recognize and support those who have PTSD, have them watch for the signs of PTSD episodes. The more education that is provided, the better there is for both the SM/Vet and the community (work, family, friends, etc.)

Make more SM understand the symptoms, assist in ways for the one with PTSD isn't lost or alone. Enough with the posters, we know there are Vets/SMs out there with PTSD (my old RDC suffers from it), establish some education or training on how to help when an episode happens (whether its a panic attack, breakdown,etc.)

I think training for a close individual, spouse, parent, sibling, close friend. Someone who can be taught the signs to look for.

There's so much to go into. Better communication with our brothers and sisters, better medical treatment and diagnosis for PTSD, establish local support groups for veterans, etc.

Cassie M.
1. De-stigmatize PTSD.
2. Treat PTSD as a medical condition.
3. Training- Train Senior NCO's and Officers to recognize possible symptoms.
4. Follow SM's after separation. Help separated SM's find proper help.
5. Counseling for families prior to and after separation.
6. Funding. Mental health counseling is not cheap. The "Power that Be" need to make this a priority.

Top three issues for suicide: 1. Lack of connection 2. Change or loss 3. Severe emotional pain
A solution is creating ways to increase connection, adapt to change or loss, and how to ease and reduce emotional pain.
I believe Healing Retreats are very productive especially if they are facilitated by non - governmental organizations. Resiliency Skills are valuable for everyone to learn. Guiding people to Volunteer Organizations to lend a hand will increase connection and reduce emotional pain.

They need continued care.

Cassie M. Understanding is key. Presentation and passion in the delivery of the message. As I begin to look for employment moving on from the Military I look to help with this message.

They need someone who they trust to tell them what the right thing to do is.

First and foremost, if a vet finally gives in to get some help, they cannot drink, period. They need to understand the meds won't work if they continue drinking. Some of the vets are in serious illegal drug activity. That has to stop. It's a huge mountain they have to climb to get fixed. Some stay with the treatment, some drop out. They need direction and they need to trust their group, friends, and their councilors. I've had the same psychologist for about eight years. Before I got her, the psycologogist were changing every six months to a year. Why is this important? Because every time I got a new councilor, I had to tell my story again and again. I almost got burned out and quit. These vets are scared to death. They're out of country on deployment one day and they're on the streets the next. Each person is a seperate entity. No two will have exactly the same reason for PTSD. The treatment has to be enjoyable with friendly staff. You get one bad apple in there who isn't friendly and doesn't want to be there, we can tell they are trying to blow smoke, and the ones who really don't want to be there, will give up for that one reason. At home, their family has to have patience and 100% support. Let them talk and don't blow them off because you don't have time for them. It's very complicated and would take a lot of time to talk about everything I saw that was positive and negative. I've had mine for 50 years. I still have to take it a day at a time.

(SUMMARY)
1. Closer support especially with the families.
2. Decentralized help in their locality.
3. Finding the right person as a confidant.