by David McNease
David McNease
Most military veterans have either thought about or attempted suicide. Thoughts of suicide are normal. Most veterans have either been to combat and seen death, watched friends die, or know of someone whom has attempted suicide. I routinely have thoughts of suicide. I also have thoughts of drinking alcohol. For me to resume drinking alcohol would be the same as suicide.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death for active duty military and veterans. There is no doubt suicide is a significant problem. What is needed is a way for veterans to cope with the suicide ideations without hurting themselves. Perhaps the best way to prevent suicide is to treat everyone, meaning both active duty and veterans for suicide ideations. Rather than trying to figure out what caused the problem just treat everyone for the illness. The US military has mandatory suicide prevention programs. It is actually suicide detection program. The military tries to look for signs the someone is suicidal. In reality, the more dangerous person is the one whom is homicidal. A person whom is both suicidal and homicidal is the person whom needs to be detected and treated.
Despite whether a veteran can be service related (through the Veterans Affairs) it would seem we have an obligation to treat all for suicide ideations. Since the terror attacks of 9-11 the US has been in a constant state of war. Veterans all previous conflicts and wars (the first Gulf War (1990-1991), Vietnam, Korea, World War II) are having increased frequency and intensity of reminders of combat. Whether treated for psychological problems or not veterans come home from deployments and war and have a difficult time coping with the gruesome images. Many do not want to talk about the horrific events as it is very painful.
Suicides are also more common in recent years because technology and the flow of information. However, it is likely that veterans from all generations have attempted suicide or committed suicide because the psychological pain was too difficult to handle.
Many cope with the pain by using alcohol and other substances. Admittedly, I coped with the psychological trauma by using alcohol until it nearly ruined my life. It took me several years of sobriety to figure out that I was self-medicating. To stay sober I had to remove the reminders of alcohol. I stopped going to places that served alcohol. I still have the urges to drink but they are not as common and not as powerful. I coped with alcohol by going to 12-step meetings and getting a sponsor.
There is a decent analogy between allowing the urge to drink and allowing the urge to commit suicide to subside. One can let the urge come in like a wave and go back out.
One does not have to hold on to the thought. Instead they can come in and go out. It is when the suicide ideation will not go away that one needs immediate help. Call 911 or get to an emergency room as soon as possible.
I look forward to any comments either here in VT or I can be contacted at [email protected].
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