The life and death of Clay Hunt

At the West Los Angeles VA, Hunt sought counseling off and on. But life became more difficult as VA delays in processing his benefits put Hunt under financial stress along with his depression.

Susan Selke: He's racking up credit card debt to try to cover things until that starts coming in. It's a very--

Byron Pitts: That must have frustrated him.

Stacy Hunt and Susan Selke: It was very frustrating.

Hunt found an outlet for his frustration riding a bicycle and through the VA he met pro-cyclist John Wordin. When Hunt's depression hit a new low in the fall of 2010, he dropped out of college. That's when Wordin took Hunt in to live with him and his family.

John Wordin: He was the darkest of the dark. You could look in his eyes and you could see that hopelessness.

Byron Pitts: Could he ever articulate what it was exactly?

John Wordin: He would always say, "I-- you know what, John? I don't feel like being here anymore."

Byron Pitts: Meaning?

John Wordin: He should've been killed in Iraq with his buddies.

[John Wordin: All you guys in the back, you gotta come forward!]

Wordin has worked with people like Clay Hunt since 2007 when he started an organization called Ride 2 Recovery.

[Bicyclist: Here we go baby!]

He organizes bike rides around the country for active duty military and veterans with psychological and physical wounds. The rides offer camaraderie and a chance to relate to others damaged by war. And the strenuous activity leads to something most are missing: sleep. Last October, 200 rode from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Byron Pitts: What happens on those rides?

John Wordin: It's magic. Something happens, they get so physically tired that they let their guard down. And all of a sudden it comes gushing out. And it's all different.

Byron Pitts: They're not alone.

John Wordin: Not only are they not alone, but they find that they have a way to overcome it.

Byron Pitts: What was Clay like on the rides?

John Wordin: He was great. I mean, he really enjoyed riding. That's what makes it so frustrating with how the end came. Because, like, he was always looking forward to the next ride. And then all of a sudden...no.

Hunt told John Wordin he'd be on the Ride 2 Recovery in Texas in March 2011. He had moved back to Houston, had a new job, a new truck, a new girlfriend, but was still haunted by what he had seen and done in war. On March 31st, Clay Hunt sat alone in his apartment and shot himself through the head. He was 28 years old.

Stacy Hunt: You never dream that a child will commit suicide. You never-- you just can't imagine things getting that bad, you know?

Susan Selke: If you don't have depression and anxiety under control, it's-- it is like a cancer. It will just-- it'll take you down.

And with his suicide, the pain and survivor's guilt that plagued Clay Hunt spread to those who knew and loved him.

Byron Pitts: Who do you blame? Do you blame anybody?

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[NA2EVS_dot_org]

Join the National Alliance to End Veteran Suicide now.
The National Alliance is a nation-wide, not for profit organization working to end Veteran suicide in our nation through research, education, resource provision, and community collaborations. We are creating a network of professional volunteer champions actively engaged in addressing the alarming concern of suicide deaths among Veterans.
www.na2evs.org

[Vanderbuff]

This story aired on March 3rd, 2013 not the given date of March 3, 2012. Correct?

[kimby57]

My heart goes out to the family left behind. I am a mother of a soldier as well and I can attest to the fact that it changes your child for life. My son too, suffers from depression, credit card debt and a sense of hopelessness and at almost 30 years of age, it breaks my heart to have him call me crying that he just wants to come home. He's getting his wish.....an early discharge for medical reasons, but he's moving in with me and bringing all his troubles with him as well. It's hard to explain to your primary care doctor that you need a prescription for Ativan just to go to sleep because you have or had a child in the military. They look at you with wide eyes....brows raised, like "What? Why would you need something to sleep just because of that?" No one understands until you experience it for yourself.
I TOTALLY understand everything Clay mentioned to his parents, because I've heard it all before. What a wonderful, handsome, young man he was.
God Bless the Hunt family. You have all my love and respect, forever.

[jkjdjjmjj]

Remember...women serve too, and yes, have been in combat for quite some time.

[lcjb82]

If you are or if you know a soldier or a vet in trouble, this information on civilian-based resources might be useful:

Both GiveAnHour (www.giveanhour.org) and The Soldier's Project (www.thesoldiersproject.org) provide counseling on a confidential basis and both have a national reach. GiveAnHour has therapists across the county that have donated their time and they are easy to find with a zip code search. Therapists with the Soldier's Project can connect in person, with Skype, by email ... whatever works.

Both are particularly useful for people who may be geographically distant from military or VA services.

The National Veteran's Foundation runs a hotline and live-chat service, staffed by veterans who are trained in crisis management. (1.888.777.4443 -- This used to run 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Pacific Time, but I think they recently extended the hours. www.nfv.org)

If a vet is looking for peer support, Vets4Warriors is available at 1.855.838.8255. This is a peer-support line, staffed by veterans 27/7.

If you are frightened for a soldier or vet, you can also call the National Suicide Hotline [phone] and press 1.

We didn't know about these groups before our son, a young veteran, committed suicide.

Our hearts are with the Hunts.

[darsvet]

I felt sadness and heartbreak as I watched Clay Hunt's story on TV; then a peace filled feeling came over me for this worn warrior.

I'm the widow of a decorated, Vietnam Vet. We were married 41 yrs.and were very lucky to have him all those years. In Oct. of 2010 when he passed, I, his family, friends, etc. were devastated. I even felt the physical pain of part of my core being pulled out to go with him. I soon learned (as I keep on learning from him)that part of him stayed, too.

One of the last times he looked at me, I knew, as he said often, that he'd rather choose to die if he thought it was for the best for everyone, especially me. That's real love, the "ultimate sacrifice."

"Thank you Hon, Clay, all Vets. We love you"!

[SSRI_widow]

My friend's son went to West Point. He became depressed and was put on SSRI type antidepressant by doctors there. He committed suicide, even though he never saw combat. My husband was never in the military and never saw combat. The doctor put him on SSRI type antidepressant for depression. There were side effects. He tried to go off it and couldn't. He committed suicide.

With all these soldiers dieing at their own hands while being treated for PTSD and depression, and with so many others in the general population committing suicide while under this type of psychiatric treatment, it is obvious the treatment is not working in many cases and might even be causing suicides. The following studies need to be done NOW:

1) What per cent of people on SSRI and SNRI medications have tried to stop and couldn't? How many times did they try to stop?
2) What per cent of people on SSRI and SNRI medications committed suicide?
3) What per cent of people on SSRI and SNRI medications got divorced? Had to retire early or go on disablility?
4) What per cent of mass murderers were on SSRI or SNRI medications when they committed their crimes?
5) What per cent of the population, especially the US Congress, is on SSRI medication now?

Thank you for your show.

[Woodsage]

We are missing the deeper psychological aspect to these tragedies.

Young men are responding to the Warrior Archetype that is part of the psyche: they are joining the military in hopes of being able to live out the mythos of the Warrior, which is a genuine part of the Archetypal psyche. In past times, living out this warrior role worked better in most cultures. THere were rituals for young men becoming warriors, rituals that allowed them to celebrate their skills and strength, their courage and daring, and there were rituals for dealing with injury and the death of comrades. There were rituals all around. The warrior fit into his society and was celebrated by his community.
WE've lost that, but we don't know what we've lost, because we don't understand the essential mythical, archetypal quality of the psyche. We've deluded ourselves to think this isn't important. We also create a serious problem for any warrior when the battle he is engaged in, is not one that his community values, and when we provide no way for the returning warrior to retain his honor and role as a warrior in our society. Often he has to struggle just to find a desk job or a job on an assembly line. The truth is, our society in general no longer sincerely values the warrior archetype, and so men (and women) who respond to that role inwardly, are often faced with psychological-social problems as a result.

[jkjdjjmjj]

Where is the investigation into the Veterans Administration and its lack of care in all of this?

[2yinyang4]

I see it on my job every day...the faces of these men who served our country and weren't treated fairly when they came home. The Viet Nam Vet especially...depression...thoughts of suicide...homeless...pissed off with the system...and many of the younger generation in this country don't have a clue...hang in there all vets...there's still people who care!