Guard and Reserve suicides on the rise

Via e-mail from a Governor's Institute partner:

But the number of guard and reserve troops who killed themselves while not on active duty jumped to 145 from 80 the previous year. Officials said some of that increase may reflect the difficulty in getting help to people scattered away from military bases and back at their civilian homes and jobs.

The realities of both war and current domestic economic developments have combined to produce a near "perfect storm" for these folks, and if we don't take some positive steps, these tragedies will continue.

Reserve and Guard soldiers tend to be older, with more responsibilities. They may live and work far from support services on military bases and may feel isolated when they return to civilian life, officials said. Unlike active-duty soldiers, reserve troops may not have ironclad job protection.

Right, so: The mental health network for veterans has historically relied on funding from Federal, State and local governments to keep it viable, but the economic and political climate is putting the fiscal squeeze on all these sources of funding. And it's not just public-sector entities that feel this crunch. Private practices are integral in this network and will suffer just as much, if not more, from the loss of funding. Gotta pay the rent. I just wanted you to understand that I understand, as a preface to a request to ask for more sacrifice.

I've looked at statistics compiled by CSSP that detail the numbers of Guard members scattered through (all) 100 counties of North Carolina, from metropolitan to rural, and I have a decent idea of how many mental health practitioners are scattered around, as well. If they were to offer (as I'm sure some already have) assessment, counseling, treatment, etc., gratis, totally free of charge, as it were, to our men and women in the Guard and Reserve, the demand and cost would not be prohibitive.

True, there are methods for procuring free assistance already, but they entail an excruciating and embarassing march through red tape that invariably ends up with that person being classified as "destitute". And for many soldiers, suicide would be a preferable alternative to that.

So, if you are a mental health practitioner or know someone who is, please consider doing this. I'm sure your local paper and other organizations would help you get the word out.

To learn more about providing or getting help, the NCCareLINK portal is a great place to start.