Minnesota Institute of Public Health

Of the 2,600 Minnesotan veterans returning home after duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, nearly 80% have readjusted to home life fairly well. But twenty percent have not, and of that group, some have taken their own lives. It is the ultimate tragedy.

It appears to be a national trend. The Army estimates that 5,000 veterans commit suicide each year, and those who served in Afghanistan or Iraq are 35% more likely than the general population to do so. Between 2002 and 2006, over 250 suicides were reported from members who left the military after 9-11.

An article this past weekend in the Wall Street Journal profiled the extreme tragedy within the family of Major General Mark Graham. With one son having died in Iraq and another military son having taken his own life at the University of Kentucky, Major General Graham, his wife Carol, and their family have dealt with their unfathomable grief in part by launching a major soldiers’ suicide awareness and prevention initiative.

Military mental health personnel report that military suicides tend to increase during wartime. Post Traumatic Shock Syndrome (PTSD) is not new, and remains a significant challenge for soldiers returning home from war. Drug and alcohol use increase is a significant contributing factor, according to the Pentagon.

The stigma of seeking help with mental health issues is a big problem for soldiers, who are concerned about losing a chance for promotion or getting re-assigned as a result of their asking for help.

The good news is, the national Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-TALK) is fully operative. This joint venture by two government agencies -- SAMHSA and the Department of Veterans Affairs – has helped more than 55,000 veterans and their families in its first year of operation. I’m told this service is free and confidential.

In Minnesota, the Army National guard is moving toward addressing the issue of suicide awareness and prevention, along with other attending issues. MIPH hopes to be a strong part of that campaign.

In the meantime, as Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Col. Chaplain John Morris (recently re-deployed to Iraq) says, we can each help by “doing what we do with eyes and ears attuned to veterans and their families”. This includes not only us as preventionists, but also the co-workers, neighbors, families, and friends of returning veterans.

If you are concerned, be willing to talk to a veteran about what you see and offer him/her the Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-TALK).

--JJ