The issue came to a head recently when an e-mail written by VA’s top
mental health doctor came to light.
The e-mail read:
“Shh! Our suicide prevention coordinators are identifying about 1,000
suicide attempts per month among the veterans we see in our medical
facilities. Is this something we should (carefully) address ourselves
in some sort of release before somebody stumbles on it?”
Dr. Ira Katz, author of the letter, later told Congress his words were
“unfortunate”
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/05/military_vasuicides_datarequest_051508w/
Friday May 16, 2008
Senator demands exact numbers on vet suicides
By Kelly Kennedy - Staff writer
After several hearings spent trying to learn the exact numbers of
suicides among veterans, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee has
formally requested exact data.
In a letter, Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, chairman of the committee,
asked the Veterans Affairs Department for the total number of vets who
have committed suicide or attempted it,
the number of vets who were under VA care when they committed or
attempted suicide,
what VA is doing to improve outreach and care for veterans ages 30 to
64,
and all VA’s health care quality assurance reviews relating to suicide
over the past three years.
“We will not know the true cost of war until we know the true rate of
suicide among veterans,” Akaka said in a prepared statement.
“Until the VA mental health care system meets the needs of those who
have served, we will continue to see the tragic consequence of veteran
suicides.”
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Another Republican administration "accomplishment". Wonder if the
Repugs are wearing their flag pins this morning.
Harry
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