On Veteran's Day, I thought it was appropriate to site some statistics about veterans and mental health:- Almost one in three veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq confront mental health problems.
- On an average day in this country, suicide claims another 18 veterans.
- Approximately 30 percent of veterans treated in the veterans health system suffer from depressive symptoms, two to three times the rate of the general population.
- More Vietnam veterans have now died from suicide than were killed directly during the war.
- Approximately 40 percent of homeless veterans have mental illnesses.
Please. Let's support our veterans.
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As a veteran, wife of a veteran and a child of veterans, I want to thank you for all your comments. On Veteran's Day I am reminded of Winston Churchill's words, "Never have so many owed so much to so few." (paraphased)
I am just happy that we treat our veterans with more honor and respect.
Something to think about:
For every Civil Liberty compromised; it's another insult to they who died fighting for our Freedom.
I wrote a poem last year, this seems a proper time and place to share it.
PTSD/Shell Shock
Sick to my heart. Sick to my soul. Sick in my body. Sick I am, whole.
Over the soldiers that are dying by their own hand.
After serving our country in some foreign land.
The atrocities they see. The horrors they bear.
Seem to stay with them. No matter where.
They come home so lost, unable to tell,
the ones who they love of their own personal Hell.
Until one day they take their own life without warning.
Leaving families and friends all grieving and mourning.
Wondering of what might have been said;
to relieve the pain and torment they felt in their head.
If I knew it would help them, I'd offer my heart.
Share with them my spirit.
Perhaps, then, they'd not part.
-Just David
I thank God every day for our veterans. We live in a free country because of the sacrifices they have made. Their families also deserve our respect because of the sacrifices they make. All veterans deserve respect and should they need assitance upon their return to civilian life we need to make some sacrifices to help them and their families.
I am a lifelong U.S. Army Chaplain and Vietnam 1968 veteran who urges you to ACT NOW to write the President and call your Congress persons to urge and end to the wars and the return of our troops now.
We started the war with no reason, just anger, had no plan, not enough troops or materials, no exit strategy, few allies and we have failed. The British and American studies say we would have to remain in Afghanistan for 10-20 years to do any good...plus spend a trillion dollars! We now have a government that is corrupt and cannot rule without us being there. The elections failed. The longer we stay the more Al Quaeda we create with our presence and our bombs.
It is time to get out of there ad force the Islamic nations to work out a way to live together. We are not protecting America...we are making more and more enemies. Our allies are leaving. Friendly nations are getting pummelled by terrorists. It is time to come home. ACT NOW...we stopped a war before; LET'S DO IT AGAIN!
EVERY DAY I GIVE THANKS FOR THE FREEDOM AND RIGHTS WE HAVE IN AMERICA. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH ABOVE COMMENTS. WE NEED TO ONLY BE INVOLVED IN WARS THAT WE ARE DIRECTLY PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS. WE NEED LEADERSHIP THAT SEES THE WHOLE PICTURE. HONOR AND RESPECT THESE VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES IS NEVER ENOUGH...I SEND OUT MY PRAYERS FOR A GREAT HEALING TO TAKE PLACE TO THE PSYCHE OF THE MANY WHO HAVE SERVED.
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