How Have You Struggled?

1. Since this is such a prevalent problem, do a proper study or series of studies so more information and understanding are gathered.
2. Do internal audits to see how the VA Healthcare system is helping or failing veterans. It is a shame that so many struggle and can't find resources to really help them.
3. Provide support, real all around support, to service members before and during transition from the military. Many feel lost and without a sense of purpose, coupled with PTSD, MST, TBIs and bodily injuries, disability, etc. Do better by the people to sacrifice to keep this country and the world safe. Provide solid Healthcare, mental healthcare and familial support. Delays in care, barriers to access and incomplete and incompetent care kills veterans.
4. Provide veterans with the ability to financially sustain themselves. Many live below poverty levels and this is absolutely unacceptable and mkrally and ethically wrong. This country cannot have people signing off their lives to defend it only to end up in poverty after they come back from deployments and wars, are discharged because of injuries or retire.
5. Act! Veterans cannot wait. Fix what does not work and do better!

I’m a former Mental Health Mobile Crisis worker, with over 20 years of experience in Mental Health. I recently was in crisis as a result of my civilian PCP being out of the country during a time I was attempting to Detox off Benzodiazepines, which were prescribed by my Civilian PCP. I had tried to get help from my local Civilian ER, but was denied. I had went for weeks without adequate sleep, as a result I had increasing Suicidal Ideations. I was left with no choice but to call the Veterans Crisis Line. I was eventually connected with a very nice RN, who advised me to go to a local ER for help, which I did. At that time I had a kind Dr. who prescribed me 10 mg of Valium, as a result I slept for 14 hours nonstop. The problem with the VA is they need a 24 hour x 7 days per week crisis center, that is manned by trained Staff who can prescribe medications to assist the Veteran immediately, instead of the current 40 hours M-F 8 hours per day system, which does not always have a Dr available who can prescribe medication to stabilize the patient. I worked Suicide Hotlines for over 15 years, I know that with out having the ability for the patient to see a Dr immediately, many would have killed themselves.
Please feel free to contact me in person as I would like to help solve this horrible situation asap. Wayne Thiltgen

The VA needs a way for veterans to talk openly, honestly, ... and anonymously about depression and dark thoughts of self-harm. I was a guest at a local Legion function (rural OH). I talked w/ a group of 8-10 older vets (none of whom I knew). Unanimous: "I don't say anything to anyone at the VA because they'll put me on a list / take my guns / lock me up." Paranoia? Please see article below and search on "involuntary commitment for mental illness".

Right now the VA talks and talks about mitigating veteran suicides but many veterans may be afraid to be open about their depression. What to do? Some kind of walk-in clinic where you don't have to show ID to talk with someone?

"Since 1998 ... the VA has reported the names of veterans appointed fiduciaries to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS, which is the system used to determine whether someone is legally prohibited from buying a gun. "

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/07/18/va-argues-gop-bill-restore-veteran-gun-rights-would-harm-suicide-prevention-efforts.html?ESRC=eb_230719.nl

When we veterans are told by our recruiters and benefit representatives what are benefits are, only to find out later we were misled. We can feel traumatized because we can interpret this to mean we are being betrayed by our own country. A country we love and feel blessed by God to be a citizen of only to be let down by those we trusted to govern us. For example, I was told by my recruiter and benefit representatives after 180 of active service I was entitled to full benefits. Because of personal problems back at home I requested to leave the military early and I was given a discharge under honorable conditions. Within in several years I needed medical care and was given medical services by several VA hospitals across the country. Twenty years after my discharge I wanted to buy a house and was given a VA certificate for a VA loan. I paid off this loan and twenty years later from this I wanted to use it again but was told I could not use it and was informed it was an error that I was able to use it before. I am also not able to have any VA medical benefits. They explained this was an error to receive medical benefits and the VA loan because I did not have 2 years of continuous service. We can feel like the whole world is against us. There is no way out. Instead of feeling supported and connected, we feel trapped, misunderstood, and left alone to languish in the mess others have contributed to in making. I have had to call the suicide prevention line several times and was given the empathy, understanding, and compassion needed to get me through those moments. Thank you for those who take our calls.

I've struggled for several years reaching breaking points a few times.
I've used the veteran's crisis line (988) once and it actually provided me with relief at the time when I was very close to the edge.

One thing I think would help and I don't think many people have said or would say is: veterans with other-than-honorable (OTH) discharges should get and still deserve help, services, and even benefits after their military service. They still served their country like everyone else. Sure, they may have had some issues while they were in causing them to get an unfavorable discharge but they fought, bled, cried, and did so much for the country just like everyone else yet they get denied so many benefits and they have to fight the system just to get even the most basic scraps. This leads to so much mental stress and pain that many of us don't even seek out our benefits or help from the VA anymore and just give up.

I didn't give up fully and managed to get some of my benefit from the VA, namely medical benefits, but I didn't have those benefits for several years and the struggle for receiving Any benefits was o much added stress that I wanted to quit and it made my mental health struggles worse and worse.

It's also hell trying to get a discharge upgraded which, again, would help those OTH veterans get access to services and benefits which would improve their lives and mental health. I basically have given up on upgrading my discharge because of the process and previous denials, the mental stress is just too much. Making it easier for OTH veterans to seek upgrades would be a tremendous help, especially since many OTH's are given out for shady reasons at best.

Other things that can be done:
Spread the word about the crisis line, the easy to dial one. 988 is much easier to dial and remember. There's a longer number that is spread around and to be honest I don't even know that number as do many veterans, so they forget about it and in a crisis situation they think there's no help. We need to disseminate the 988 crisis line as the main number for veterans in crisis to call. Tell people to put it in their phones as an emergency contact, to memorize the number, etc.
Remind veterans about and push the mental health options available through VA healthcare. Many veterans don't realize how the military has affected them mentally (I didn't realize I was depressed until several years after I was out, I was just wallowing without knowing why) and offering them the option to see therapists and psychiatrists who know the military struggle would be an excellent way to help.
Suggest more veterans to seek out disability if they have military caused issues. Money troubles are a major mental health issue (something else I struggle with) and having even a small additional supplement could be the key to saving someone's mental state and life.

I hope someone actually reads all this, especially the parts about OTH veterans, and really takes this stuff into consideration to help us out. It's a struggle for many of us out here and I really wanna believe someone is out here trying to help us.

Stay away from the VA every time I contact the VA, and they plant the suicide seed in your mind by asking you about it. Signs all over the place. Big red banner on there web sites. I believe they plant the notion and then do everything to frustrate you.but I will never give in. It's better to die from not seeing a doctor than from my hand.

Didn't know I was a musician until I tried drumming and taught myself to sing well. When I play with other musicians, that is the best antidepressant and gives my life purpose and meaning. If available and requested, maybe a VA rep could physically visit vets at risk in their homes at least once a year to see how they live and provide additional ideas and support, that might be helpful.

As a Christian, about a year or two ago, I have felt called into Mental Health/Life Coaching and Counseling. Earlier this year, I launched a Coaching practice (ShepherdingHope.com) and I'm 56% done with my master's degree in clinical Mental Health Counseling. In all this, Galatians 6:2 has been put on my heart. It has become my life verse, which is to "Bear one another's burden, and so, fulfill the law of Christ."

I believe we have to break the stigma behind seeking help. EVERYONE needs it sometimes. It's not a bad thing to need help. We all have skills and abilities that will complement someone else's skills and abilities. No one person can "do it all."

Some other resources that I'd like to include for my fellow brothers/sisters in addition to the 988 option:
The Crisis Text line: Text Home to 741741.
GroundWire (.net)

What helps me when I find myself in a mental funk: Challenge the thought. Generally, I do this one of two ways. 1.) Map it out by listing the thought, and then make two columns. One labeled True and one labeled false. Build the case. 99% of the time, my negative thoughts are false. 2.) Replace the negative thought with a positive one. I personally find this one more rewarding. However, for me, it's MUCH harder to do.

Take time to get some fresh air. Get some exercise. It doesn't have to be "PT." It can be walking. Endorphins help make (and keep) us happy.

Get plenty of sleep. I struggle with this one, but there are a number of studies that show that adequate sleep is beneficial. I know we all have so much to do, but that's another reason why we need to ask for help. Some people are AWESOME at tasks that I stink at or take a long time to do (and vice versa).

So now the va is asking what they can do to help? They said if we had problem they would be there to catch us. But there not. After going homeless 2 times while in there system. It became apparent that they don’t care. They collect data like this to boost there funding then give you a list of phone number to places that can’t help or won’t help. You call the organizations that they tell you to call for help because the va couldn’t be bothered. And you either make to much based off of your rating or not enough. There’s not really an in between. No body is there to catch you. No body is there to help. They pump us full of super addictive substances. Then if you develop a problem tell you it’s your faulte. When you go to try to get benefits through there claims process, they send you to unqualified people and more outside companies that ask questions like why do you feel you deserve a rating. Truthfully no one deserves to be fucked up like we are. It’s not that we deserve it. We got messed up. That’s earning it. Not deserving it. Shrinks who will laugh at you. That’s been my experience. And god forbid you ask your doctor at the va to help develop your claim. They’ll tell you it’s a conflict of interest. Which it’s not. Truthfully. The va doesn’t want to help. They want to keep there funding. Not much has worked for me. The depression and anxiety haven’t gotten better only worse. The physical pain is constant. And anything you try to do to make it better the va has convoluted to the point it basically becomes a full time job just trying to get help. And then our spouses use all of it against us to take our kids and keep them away from us. Just more pain and stress. Any relief that is had is fleeting. What can the va do to help prevent veteran suicide? Function better or actually care. Stop pumping us full of narcotics and stop asking us why we deserve this. Because nobody deserves this. Not to feel the way we do. You’ve created a system that leaves us feeling dejected, that leaves us broken instead of trying to actually fix us or help us. All so you can continue to get more funding for less work. We did our jobs. Time for you to do yours.