Posted on Feb 7, 2016
Veteran Suicide: The False Narrative of the Number "22" - In Military
6.4K
90
27
14
14
0
Where are the retired Admirals and Generals when it comes to the mission of stopping the Veteran suicide rates?
Veteran Suicide: The False Narrative of the Number "22" - In Military
Posted from inmilitary.com
Suicide
Officers
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 16
8
8
0
Please take a few minutes of your time to read below - thanks
LCDR Gordon Brown I don't know about the Admirals and Generals, but there is a Colonel who is working hard and a group of RallyPoint Members that are working hard as well through a program called Virtual World Solutions d/b/a Sponsor a Vet Life (VWS SAVL). We are trying our very hardest to get veterans and active duty members that are suffering from PTSD, MST, TBI, and that are severely disabled into out program, so we can help reduce suicides and provide a place for veterans to get positive peer to peer support and provide access to other services that we might not be able to handle from a medical professional standpoint. We want to help active duty members come to us confidentially so they are labeled with that Stigma we see in today’s services and we don't want them to lose their current benefits with the VA. Here is a copy of the newsletter on services we are building in the Sponsor a Vet Life Program through the help of the Founder and CEO of VWS SAVL Ilene Morris: https://www.smore.com/x19ep
This Civilian Supporter Ilene Morris has put the last 10 years of her life into building this platform that actually saved (6) of her employees from here previous Virtual Company, that employed over 500 disabled individuals and veterans, from committing suicide! She knows that it can help and works. She has poured all of her own funds into this project to point of being poverty stricken herself.
I joined the organization in August of 2015 as a volunteer and continue to volunteer my time to help her get it on solid ground and will continue to do so. I have recruited many veterans already that have PTSD or that are 100% disabled into the program and they are doing so well that they are not working as volunteers themselves helping other veterans. We have connected with some great Civilian Supporters on RallyPoint as well that are stepping up to the plate to help us get the revenue needed to allow veterans and active duty members into SAVL at no charge. Here are a few of the best we are working with now: Angela Benedict of Military Healing Center (Here is what Angela is all about in this article helping to reduce the affects of PTSD prior to deployment:https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-know-someone-who-is-stuck-in-their-trauma-recovery), Doug Macdonald and Michael Kaplan (Here is what Doug and Michael are all about: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/which-comes-1st-in-transition-adapting-your-mindset-or-understanding-the-process) SPC Lazaro (Laz) Diaz of the Network Doctors (Here is what Laz and his wife are all about: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/which-comes-1st-in-transition-adapting-your-mindset-or-understanding-the-process - check out my post and the free Cisco Training they are going to provide in VWS SAVL) GySgt Bryan A. McGown "Gunny" of GunnyRet Consulting, LLC., a Military Veteran Recruiting Company (Here is what he is all about and he is volunteering his time with SAVL as well: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/did-you-know-that-gunny-is-serving-the-global-needs-of-veterans-and-employers); and SPC Joel Willman from the Joel Willman Racing Team helping us market SAVL on his racing car and events to help veterans with PTSD (Here's what he is all about: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-there-more-that-can-be-done-to-help-veterans-with-ptsd-like-joel-willman-s-racing-team); Anita Nowocin and Her daughter Carrie's work to help homeless veterans across this country (Here is what they are all about: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/have-you-heard-of-this-great-cause-operation-homes-for-heroes); Karen Bowersox and Downs Jeans (Here is what she is all about: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/have-you-heard-of-downs-designs-dreams-nbz-jeans-and-its-mission-for-the-disabled-and-disabled-veterans); PFC Joseph Levi working out of Congressman Gibson's office doing great things for veterans every day and a member/volunteer of SAVL; and there are many more that are working hard to help this program do it's mission - reduce suicides.
I'm a firm believer in this program and all the others that are working hard to reduce this number. I too have experience the personal loss of suicide firsthand in my own family. This is a discussion I posted about my Father-in-Law: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/did-you-know-that-my-family-lost-a-brother-veteran-father-and-husband-yesterday-to-suicide
Take some time to read each link and what these great individuals are doing to help reduce suicides through their own hard work and dedication.
Sometimes you don't need Admirals and Generals to make a difference, just a lot of great American willing to work hard and do something about it!
LCDR Gordon Brown I don't know about the Admirals and Generals, but there is a Colonel who is working hard and a group of RallyPoint Members that are working hard as well through a program called Virtual World Solutions d/b/a Sponsor a Vet Life (VWS SAVL). We are trying our very hardest to get veterans and active duty members that are suffering from PTSD, MST, TBI, and that are severely disabled into out program, so we can help reduce suicides and provide a place for veterans to get positive peer to peer support and provide access to other services that we might not be able to handle from a medical professional standpoint. We want to help active duty members come to us confidentially so they are labeled with that Stigma we see in today’s services and we don't want them to lose their current benefits with the VA. Here is a copy of the newsletter on services we are building in the Sponsor a Vet Life Program through the help of the Founder and CEO of VWS SAVL Ilene Morris: https://www.smore.com/x19ep
This Civilian Supporter Ilene Morris has put the last 10 years of her life into building this platform that actually saved (6) of her employees from here previous Virtual Company, that employed over 500 disabled individuals and veterans, from committing suicide! She knows that it can help and works. She has poured all of her own funds into this project to point of being poverty stricken herself.
I joined the organization in August of 2015 as a volunteer and continue to volunteer my time to help her get it on solid ground and will continue to do so. I have recruited many veterans already that have PTSD or that are 100% disabled into the program and they are doing so well that they are not working as volunteers themselves helping other veterans. We have connected with some great Civilian Supporters on RallyPoint as well that are stepping up to the plate to help us get the revenue needed to allow veterans and active duty members into SAVL at no charge. Here are a few of the best we are working with now: Angela Benedict of Military Healing Center (Here is what Angela is all about in this article helping to reduce the affects of PTSD prior to deployment:https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-know-someone-who-is-stuck-in-their-trauma-recovery), Doug Macdonald and Michael Kaplan (Here is what Doug and Michael are all about: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/which-comes-1st-in-transition-adapting-your-mindset-or-understanding-the-process) SPC Lazaro (Laz) Diaz of the Network Doctors (Here is what Laz and his wife are all about: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/which-comes-1st-in-transition-adapting-your-mindset-or-understanding-the-process - check out my post and the free Cisco Training they are going to provide in VWS SAVL) GySgt Bryan A. McGown "Gunny" of GunnyRet Consulting, LLC., a Military Veteran Recruiting Company (Here is what he is all about and he is volunteering his time with SAVL as well: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/did-you-know-that-gunny-is-serving-the-global-needs-of-veterans-and-employers); and SPC Joel Willman from the Joel Willman Racing Team helping us market SAVL on his racing car and events to help veterans with PTSD (Here's what he is all about: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-there-more-that-can-be-done-to-help-veterans-with-ptsd-like-joel-willman-s-racing-team); Anita Nowocin and Her daughter Carrie's work to help homeless veterans across this country (Here is what they are all about: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/have-you-heard-of-this-great-cause-operation-homes-for-heroes); Karen Bowersox and Downs Jeans (Here is what she is all about: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/have-you-heard-of-downs-designs-dreams-nbz-jeans-and-its-mission-for-the-disabled-and-disabled-veterans); PFC Joseph Levi working out of Congressman Gibson's office doing great things for veterans every day and a member/volunteer of SAVL; and there are many more that are working hard to help this program do it's mission - reduce suicides.
I'm a firm believer in this program and all the others that are working hard to reduce this number. I too have experience the personal loss of suicide firsthand in my own family. This is a discussion I posted about my Father-in-Law: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/did-you-know-that-my-family-lost-a-brother-veteran-father-and-husband-yesterday-to-suicide
Take some time to read each link and what these great individuals are doing to help reduce suicides through their own hard work and dedication.
Sometimes you don't need Admirals and Generals to make a difference, just a lot of great American willing to work hard and do something about it!
Why Are We Waiting for Others to Find Solutions When Each Day Passes 22 More Veterans Will Commit Suicide? It is up to us, the Citizens...
(8)
(0)
Doug Macdonald
COL Mikel J. Burroughs, Thank you for including Michael Kaplan and myself in this dedicated group. I have had the pleasure of working with Sponsor A Vet Life over the last several months and what they are doing is making and going to make a huge difference in how we address PTS & other brain disorders that could lead to bad choices. Keep up the great work.
(2)
(0)
Capt Lance Gallardo
I am asking that the RP administrators put yours and Col. Ford's information in a special place on RP for Suicide Prevention or maybe a special place for Resources for Vets and Serving Military that they can creat here on RP. Yours and Col. Fords comments above an are invaluable resource. i also wonder if Google Hangouts is a resource for vets to meet online as well as in person or the phone to offer support when dealing with depression or suicidal ideations?
MAJ Yinon Weiss
MAJ Yinon Weiss
(3)
(0)
Anita Nowocin
More activity military, Veterans and their family members need to be encouraged to join RallyPoint. In doing so, they would learn about services that are available like SAVL and About Face.
(4)
(0)
6
6
0
Every suicide is tragic whether it is a veteran active duty or reserve service member or civilian who has never served LCDR Gordon Brown. I have know successful suicides in each of those groups and many unsuccessful suicides who by the grace of God tried to kill themselves but failed in the attempts.
The 22 veteran suicides a day is a red herring because it implies that veterans are killing themselves at a steady rate [although uncoordinated] and that all the efforts by friends, family, clergy, medical and mental health professionals over the decades have done nothing to stem the tide.
Helping people turn away from suicide is a very personal process. I was clinically depressed for many years which means technically that I had a plan to commit suicide and was prepared to execute it. By the grace of God I was not successful and learned to be a productive citizen and soldier.
There are many legitimate efforts to stem the tide of veteran suicides which thankfully are significantly lower than 22 per day but still too high. COL Mikel J. Burroughs is affiliated with the Virtual World Solutions d/b/a Sponsor a Vet Life (VWS SAVL) and Sgt Joe LaBranche is affiliated with Home - AboutFace-USA [the links to both of these are included in responses here].
The DAV, VFW and American Legion are all involved in the fight to save veterans from suicide, homelessness, and joblessness.
Homelessness, broken marriages, drug and alcohol abuse, and joblessness are each factors which can push or drag somebody to suicide. The efforts to find or build homes for veterans, help them save their marriages, and draw them away from drug and alcohol av=bue and ultimately help them find a good job all help
I have no idea why you focused on retired flag officers. The DoD and VA leadership need to be involved. The military is led by civilians by design. The POTUS, and secretaries of DoD, HHS, VA, Army, Navy and Air Force along with their principles are in th best position to implement policy and procedural changes including the networks charged with suicide prevention. Every month I get a DoD email on the suicide breakout of active duty members. One way to reduce veterans suicised is by helping them transition prior to transition, during transition and for up to a year or two after transition if necessary. That will require congressional legislation.
LTC Stephen C. CH (MAJ) William Beaver CPT (Join to see) CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) SGT Forrest Stewart TSgt Hunter Logan TSgt John Temblador, PI, CIPA
The 22 veteran suicides a day is a red herring because it implies that veterans are killing themselves at a steady rate [although uncoordinated] and that all the efforts by friends, family, clergy, medical and mental health professionals over the decades have done nothing to stem the tide.
Helping people turn away from suicide is a very personal process. I was clinically depressed for many years which means technically that I had a plan to commit suicide and was prepared to execute it. By the grace of God I was not successful and learned to be a productive citizen and soldier.
There are many legitimate efforts to stem the tide of veteran suicides which thankfully are significantly lower than 22 per day but still too high. COL Mikel J. Burroughs is affiliated with the Virtual World Solutions d/b/a Sponsor a Vet Life (VWS SAVL) and Sgt Joe LaBranche is affiliated with Home - AboutFace-USA [the links to both of these are included in responses here].
The DAV, VFW and American Legion are all involved in the fight to save veterans from suicide, homelessness, and joblessness.
Homelessness, broken marriages, drug and alcohol abuse, and joblessness are each factors which can push or drag somebody to suicide. The efforts to find or build homes for veterans, help them save their marriages, and draw them away from drug and alcohol av=bue and ultimately help them find a good job all help
I have no idea why you focused on retired flag officers. The DoD and VA leadership need to be involved. The military is led by civilians by design. The POTUS, and secretaries of DoD, HHS, VA, Army, Navy and Air Force along with their principles are in th best position to implement policy and procedural changes including the networks charged with suicide prevention. Every month I get a DoD email on the suicide breakout of active duty members. One way to reduce veterans suicised is by helping them transition prior to transition, during transition and for up to a year or two after transition if necessary. That will require congressional legislation.
LTC Stephen C. CH (MAJ) William Beaver CPT (Join to see) CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) SGT Forrest Stewart TSgt Hunter Logan TSgt John Temblador, PI, CIPA
(6)
(0)
Capt Lance Gallardo
Thank you for sharing such personal details, Col. Ford. It is also no secret that many retired LEOS and Firefighters also commit suicide not long after retiring. Maybe for similar reasons as vets. Many of them are vets too. I think that when you are depressed and/or in transition in life (Marriage ending, a major illness, loss of a job, adjusting to retirement) many people isolate rather than reaching out for help. I wasted a year of my life, trying to figure out who I was after I received my Honorable Discharge, but resigned my commission in the Marines, deeply disillusioned with what I perceived to be a fatally flawed military justice system. My expectations about how being a Marine Defense JAG I could "make a difference" fell pretty far from my reality as a defense counsel at a small Marine Corps Base (MCLB-Barstow). Like that line from the Movie Rush (1991), where the Grizzled Veteran Narcotics Investigator played by Sam Elliott tells the idealistic new undercover detective, when she answered that she wanted to be a cop to make a difference (played by Jennifer Jason Leigh), "the only thing that will be different is you."
I mostly saw the negatives of the Marine Corps dealing with Marines who had legal problems, and I sure did not see the big picture as an overly idealistic young officer on my first (and as it turned out last) tour of duty. I should have gotten therapy to make a legitimate short cut in rebuilding my identity now that I was no longer, Capt. Lance Gallardo, JAG, USMC. I would have spent less time licking my wounds and I would have transitioned faster into a civilian attorney. But as they say, hindsight is 20/20.
I mostly saw the negatives of the Marine Corps dealing with Marines who had legal problems, and I sure did not see the big picture as an overly idealistic young officer on my first (and as it turned out last) tour of duty. I should have gotten therapy to make a legitimate short cut in rebuilding my identity now that I was no longer, Capt. Lance Gallardo, JAG, USMC. I would have spent less time licking my wounds and I would have transitioned faster into a civilian attorney. But as they say, hindsight is 20/20.
(2)
(0)
6
6
0
If you are a veterans and need to talk, please reach out to Joe LaBranche at
http://www.aboutface-usa.org or call [login to see] . AboutFace provides emotional, financial, spiritual, and physical assistance to veterans, their family members, and family members of our fallen.
http://www.aboutface-usa.org or call [login to see] . AboutFace provides emotional, financial, spiritual, and physical assistance to veterans, their family members, and family members of our fallen.
military & veteran vocational & life skills training, support group sessions, family empowerment, Tower Gardening, Horse Farm Mngmt, Equine Therapy, BeeKeeping
(6)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google