Salute to Veteran Patients Week

As we celebrate our National Salute to Veteran Patients Week with various festivities (Wall of Valor inductions, special proclamations, and of course – the Valentines for Veterans Concert), I think it’s important to remember that there is no better way to show our appreciation for veterans than to extend care and compassion for them when it comes to suicide prevention.

Suicide is a national public health concern, but it is preventable. Did you know that an average of 20 veterans die by suicide each day, but 14 of those 20 have not received recent VA care? At the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, we believe suicide prevention is much more than intervention at the point of crisis – it is about creating and fostering cultures where veterans and their families thrive. It is about working with community resources to develop a network of resources available whenever and wherever our Veterans need them.

At VA, we have taken many steps to create a robust Suicide Prevention program. We have a Suicide Prevention team to provide personal assistance to individuals who have been identified as high-risk. We also work with community resources to maximize our effectiveness. Last year, for example, we held a VA and community Mental Health/Suicide Prevention Summit. The event was well-attended and well-received, and brought experts from many fields together to teach and learn from each other.

Nationally, under VA’s new universal screening for suicidal intent, almost 900,000 veterans have received a standardized risk-screen - just since October 1, 2018. More than 30,000 of these Veterans have received more complex screening based on a positive initial screen and more than 3,000 have received a full clinical assessment after screening positive. And in fiscal year 2018, VA provided more than 2.4 million same-day mental health appointments.

What about you? How can you help? For one thing, know the warning signs.

Look for significant changes in behavior or mood. Notice if a veteran is:

• Sleeping a lot more or a lot less;

• Quicker to anger;

• More withdrawn from family and friends;

• Drinking more or using drugs;

• Engaging in high-risk behaviors;

• Expressing feelings of hopelessness or saying loved ones would be better off without them around.

Everyone also should be aware of the signs of crisis, which require immediate attention from a mental health professional:

• Thinking about hurting or killing oneself;

• Looking for ways to kill oneself;

• Talking about death, dying, or suicide;

• Self-destructive behavior, such as drug abuse or the dangerous use of weapons.

If you notice these changes in a veteran, encourage him or her to contact the Veterans Crisis Line, or you can reach out yourself:

• Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1;

• Chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net;

• Send a text to 838255.

It is also important to show the veterans in your life that you care. A simple act of kindness can help someone feel less alone. And don’t be afraid to ask the question, “Are you thinking of harming yourself?” Starting the conversation can be the first step to getting help.

Because taking care of veterans is our highest priority, we take suicide prevention very seriously in VA, and at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center.

Remember, we are all in this together, and one death is too many. Suicide prevention is everyone’s job, and suicide IS preventable.

————

Dr. Patricia Hall is the Medical Center Director of the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center since 2016. She is a retired Army colonel and Bronze Star recipient, who completed two tours in Afghanistan where she commanded a hospital in a combat zone.