The Veteran

May/Jun 17 edition of Family Therapy Magazine reported startling stats. An average of 20 American veterans commit suicide daily. In one government study the rate of suicide among former military personnel in Canada is 46% higher for males and 32% higher for females, relative to the civilian population (Stats Canada, 2011). In the USA suicide prevention has become a top National priority (p 29). The article continues with PTSD which we are already familiar with. “Moral Injury” has also been introduced. Litz et al.(2009) proposes that mental injury “ occurs when one not by one’s own accord, perpetuates/inflicts, or fails to prevent violence on others, or fails to prevent violence on others, or bears witness to acts that transgress one’s deeply held moral beliefs and appears to contribute to different manifestations in emotions, thoughts and behaviors that often lead to different manifestations in emotions, thoughts and behaviors that often lead to destructive and unhealthy outcomes including high suicidality (Marvasti&Dripchak, 2010).” War affects the whole person of the veteran physiologically, emotionally, spiritually, morally and relationally which changes a soldier’s core and character structure. Tick (2014) noted that a soldier surviving a war in a battlefield goes through a psychic death and rebirth process. Trying to treat a soldier as her/his former self only brings isolation, disappointment, frustration and destruction to the transformed identity of the soldier (Tick, 2014).(FTM pages 29-32). Every once in a while I will get a call from someone in the States concerned about a military person and I always recommend that they contact their veteran affairs for help. Since they are in the States, the resources are right there for them. We too have our own veteran affairs and I have already posted a number that service people may call. I have found that depression and isolation is very common. However, I also know that veterans are very close to each other and trust each other before trusting their civilian counterpart, though not always. Though suicide may always be an option for some, I caution people who are not qualified therapists to not casually report a veteran has suicidal. I cannot count the amount of persons in the general population who I have seen who reported being or feeling suicidal. As a therapist, I have to believe that the person will commit suicide. I cannot either count how many people have reported that they were going to kill themselves out of frustration for one reason or another. I can report that lives made worse by well meaning health helpers who were not qualified and reported a possible veteran has being suicidal when it was not the case. I even mentioned this on a course where I was surprised at how many people were working with possible suicide persons without any qualification. The highest qualified person in that arena was a psychology undergrad student who the others were seeking advice from. I could not contain my anger and disappointed. This needs to change and soon. I have been fortunate so far. There is a cry for help out there. There are also those who seem to be led by the blind and that is not missed. I have mentioned it before that during seminars a focus is on the mindset of the soldier. The focus is on the culture. And sometimes that is missed as well. I encourage every veteran and soldier thinking suicide to take advantage of the resources you have offered to you. If you have seen someone and have not been able to connect with him or her, don’t waste time. See another therapist. Check their qualifications and make sure they are registered. The world of veterans can be a small one and I suggest that you find others and connect and share. People are always changing by what happens to them and they are never entirely the same. Every moment something happens to us and we grow and change. Sometimes, something so horrible happens and it scars. However, we can also move forward and live a productive life if we are able to reach out, for no person is an island. We need others. What do you think? September 11 is today and my thoughts are for the 3000 people who died and their families. We should never forget those who have suffered, and those who fight for us. I would like to add my prayers for those suffering from the recent disasters in the States and Caribbean.