Account for mental health in the VA’s budget: #tellusatoday

Letter to the editor:

Paste BN’s editorial “Every 72 minutes, a veteran commits suicide” is a terrible fact. The piece spotlighted the difficulty of getting a handle on this particular issue. One young veteran lay down on a railroad track and ended his life. Another veteran in the same editorial shot himself to death. These veterans share their service in the armed forces, they have that common ground, but what else? The figure of 22 suicides a day includes all veterans from all wars. Some of these suicides occur among veterans who never deployed to the war zone. What are we to make of them? Our vets deserve our respect and our gratitude because they stepped forward when so many did not. But beyond that, getting a handle on this issue is a tough nut to crack.

Veterans have to put the war and their experiences behind them. Some can, others can’t. We may be able to improve the statistics somewhat, but I for one am not convinced we can alter things significantly. Our veterans are extremely proud and honor-bound. That sense of honor carries a heavy weight. Our modern military is the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen but it all comes at great cost. There is a high price to be paid to assemble this awesome fighting force.

Robert Peele; Rocky Mount, N.C.

Letter to the editor:

The only way the problems in the Department of Veterans Affairs will be solved is to combine the budgets of the VA and the Defense Department. Let voters see the real cost of our adventures around the world. With over 15 years of data available just from Iraq and Afghanistan, reasonably accurate projections of long-term care for veterans can be calculated. When politicians want to put our troops in harm’s way, they should be required to acknowledge the total financial cost to the country.

Politicians say they “love our veterans.” Talk is cheap. Ask every one of them if they will fully fund veterans’ care, no matter what it costs. Then ask them if they will statutorily exempt this funding from any sequestration law or government shutdown. Finally, ask them if they will vote to raise taxes, if necessary, to keep their word to vets.

Tom Henrichs; Foley, Ala.

We asked our followers what the Department of Veterans Affairs can do to lower the number of veteran suicides.

Pay for, employ, and somehow enable social workers with clinical training.

— @lisamillard3

Flip Congress and fire your congressman.

— @Bloviatorium

Increase funding in print and broadcast media targeting 18- to 29-year-old veterans where death rates have been highest.

— @JeffOstach

Allocate funds for mandatory mental health sessions after deployment.

— @my_musical_goes

For more, follow @USATOpinion or #tellusatoday.