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Follow on Google News | H-II Stephen Michael Apatow Speaks Out on U.S. Soldier SuicidesThe scope of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) associated with combat, combined with the social challenges of a national economic emergency have pushed many U.S. Soldiers to suicide.
By: HRI: United Nations Arts Initiative The scope of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) associated with combat, combined with the social challenges of a national economic emergency have pushed many U.S. Soldiers to suicide. Writing on the NPR health blog, Whitney Blair Wyckoff writes that while American soldiers who commit suicide receive full military honors, their families don’t receive a letter of condolence from the White House. [1] It’s a substantial omission because, as Wyckoff notes, “the number of soldiers who committed suicide in the U.S. military rivaled those who were killed on the battlefield in Afghanistan this year.” -- DoD: No condolence letter if soldier committed suicide: Association of Healthcare Journalists. [3] The scope of such a scenario is beyond comprehension. H-II: Stephen Michael Apatow recalled [4] a story from a former Navy Seal who served in Somalia, was released on a medical discharge and suffered with PTSD [5]. The story: While on patrol, accompanied by another soldier, two United States Marines were found mutilated. In short, these soldiers in self defense, killed everything that moved back to the barracks. This traumatic incident compromised their capacity to serve and within two months, following debriefing and a short counseling session, the soldier was released back into civilian life. It was the fast track medical discharge, that flashed back into my memory. It was the inadequate medical help provided post release and the struggles that he faced with great anguish. He was a lucky one because he was able to pull it together, unlike many of the 131,000 veterans who are homeless on any given night [6] that were not able to adjust or veterans who commit suicide (estimated 120 per week in 2005). [7] As noted in the 2009 "National Community Support for Wounded Warrior Project" Additional unmet needs in the spotlight include: * Jobless rate at 11.2% for veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan: * Untold Mortgage Crisis: Families Facing Military Foreclosures: * Homeless Veterans: The VA estimates that 131,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. And approximately twice that many experience homelessness over the course of a year. Conservatively, one out of every three homeless men who is sleeping in a doorway, alley or box in our cities and rural communities has put on a uniform and served this country. The vast majority are single, most come from poor, disadvantaged communities, 45 percent suffer from mental illness, and half have substance abuse problems. America’s homeless veterans have served in World War II, Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) * More female veterans are winding up homeless; many are single parents: One out of every 10 homeless vets under the age of 45 is now a woman, the statistics show. Overall, female veterans are now between two and four times more likely to end up homeless than their civilian counterparts, according to the VA, most as a result of the same factors that contribute to homelessness among male veterans: mental trauma related to their military service and difficulty transitioning into the civilian economy. -- Article: Boston Globe, 2 July 2009. The Soundtrack: "The Soldiers Tear" is dedicated to Our Troops and is available on the Country Goes Global compilation accessible on AirPlay Direct. Our members of the armed forces protect all United States citizens with their lives, it is time that we show respect, honor and gratitude for their sacrifice. This need has prompted a national call for all communities, businesses and corporations to commit special programs and assistance for current members/veterans of our armed forces, our most severely wounded warriors and wounded transitional. -- H-II: Stephen Michael Apatow References: 1. Mental Health Groups Ask White House To Reverse Suicide Letter Policy: National Public Radio, 14 October 2010. Url: www.npr.org/ 2. Suicide Rivals The Battlefield In Toll On U.S. Military: National Public Radio, 17 June 2010. Url: www.npr.org/ 3. DoD: No condolence letter if soldier committed suicide: Association of Healthcare Journalists, Oct. 21st, 2010. Url: www.healthjournalism.org/ 4. In Dedication to Our Troops - HRI:UNArts: Wounded Warrior Transition Initiative: Music Industry News Network, 31 May 2010. Url: mi2n.com/press.php3? 5. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Medline Plus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. Url: www.nlm.nih.gov/ 6. Background & Statistics: National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. Url: www.nchv.org/ 7. Estimate: 120 Veteran Suicides Per Week: Institute for Public Accuracy, 24 March 2008. Url: www.accuracy.org/ 8. National Community Support for Armed Forces and Wounded Warrior Project: Humanitarian Resource Institute, 27 July 2009. Url:www.unarts.org/ # # # United Nations Arts Initiative: Promoting the arts as a vehicle for solution oriented strategic planning and development across the globe. End
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