Dr. Phil Highlights CBS Investigation

By: Pia Malbran
Topics: CBS News Issues

(CBS/The Early Show)

On Friday, the Dr. Phil television program became the first national mainstream talk show to devote an entire hour to the plight of veterans featuring an investigative report by CBS Chief Investigative Correspondent Armen Keteyian that exposed an epidemic of suicide among those who have served in the military.

Dr. Phil Show Dec 19, 2008 "Beyond the Front Lines"

Video:
Vets' Suicide Epidemic

"They come home and have no help, no voice," said the show's host, Dr. Phil McGraw, of veterans who often feel mistreated and neglected when they return to the U.S. after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. "The system is broken," he added.

Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, appeared on the show along with the director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, Tammy Duckworth, and Paul Rieckhoff, the executive director and founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America's 'Veterans Online Community'

Filner said the U.S. government was not prepared for the aftermath of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He said the current crisis in the Middle East has generated almost a million veterans and the federal agency charged with taking care of them, the Department of Veterans Affairs, is struggling to keep up with physical and mental wounds. He said there have been cases where suicidal veterans have been turned away from the VA and then kill themselves. And, he said the VA currently has a backlog of approximately 800,000 benefits claims that need to be processed.

During the show, a clip was also shown of the CBS News story that aired in November of 2007. The report, done by Keteyian, exposed for the first time just how widespread the issue of suicide is among vets. CBS News discovered that young veterans in their twenties commit suicide at a rate that is up to four times what it is for civilians the same age. Keteyian was shown questioning the VA's head of mental health, Dr. Ira Katz, who was, at the time, downplaying the risk.

Dr. Phil said the VA declined his invitation to appear on the show. He ended the program by telling veterans: "you are not forgotten."

Video:
Struggle Of Soldier Suicides

The pain of losing a loved one to suicide.

Video:
Eye To Eye: Veteran Health

Paul Sullivan, a former VA analyst who is now the executive director of the advocate group Veterans For Common Sense, shares his insight.

Video:
Veterans Families Speak Out

The families of veterans speak out.

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by centerfall94 December 20, 2008 11:26 PM EST: The help has always been there...they neglect the fact that you have to CHOOSE to get help...you can''''t force help to somebody who doesn''''t want it.

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Posted by RowdynTex at 05:42 PM : Dec 20, 2008

Congratulations, Rowdy. You just described the Iraqi People.; Reply to this comment


by ageinghippie December 20, 2008 11:19 PM EST: This is probably the worst thing CBS could have done, Dr. Phil is nothing but a grandstanding,self serving phony who would throw a vet under the bus if he thought it would further his own interests.; Reply to this comment


by ageinghippie December 20, 2008 11:17 PM EST: This is probably the worst thing CBS could have done, Dr. Phil is nothing but a grandstanding,self serving phony who would throw a vet under the bus if he thought it would further his own interests.; Reply to this comment


by ageinghippie December 20, 2008 10:53 PM EST: This is probably the worst thing CBS could have done, Dr. Phil is nothing but a grandstanding,self serving phony who would throw a vet under the bus if he thought it would further his own interests.; Reply to this comment


by ageinghippie December 20, 2008 10:40 PM EST: This is probably the worst thing CBS could have done, Dr. Phil is nothing but a grandstanding,self serving phony who would throw a vet under the bus if he thought it would further his own interests.; Reply to this comment


by ageinghippie December 20, 2008 10:37 PM EST: This is probably the worst thing CBS could have done, Dr. Phil is nothing but a grandstanding,self serving phony who would throw a vet under the bus if he thought it would further his own interests.; Reply to this comment


by ageinghippie December 20, 2008 10:36 PM EST: This is probably the worst thing CBS could have done, Dr. Phil is nothing but a grandstanding,self serving phony who would throw a vet under the bus if he thought it would further his own interests.; Reply to this comment


by ramos937 December 20, 2008 10:15 PM EST: Regardless of what some folks may think about Dr. Phil, any attention that is given to this national disgrace is sorely needed and welcomed.

We have had instance after instance where it has been shown in grapic detail how we are not taking care of our veterans and wounded military. Each time, the politicians swear that the situation will be cleared up and each time, after the publicity dies away, things go back to the way they were. I really hope that the Obama appointees do much better than the Bush administration.; Reply to this comment


by godofredo29 December 20, 2008 10:02 PM EST: This is fine as long as Dr. Phil doesn''t turn around and start that "just say no to suicide" *** so many do-gooders are fond of spreading. Or, trying to shame the one contemplating suicide by telling them how much pain and misery they are going to leave behind. The problem with that is: 1)it neglects to treat the person as an individual in their own right whose ideals and aspirations---their reason for living--are as important; 2)it fails to recognize that someone at the point of taking their own life has already gotten beyond worrying about what effect it might have on anybody else.; Reply to this comment


by dakotaclark December 20, 2008 9:37 PM EST: Hmmm...

For eight plus years, I worked with incarcerated veterans. They ranged from WWII to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

None of them believed they had any problems or issues needing a little help, despite being in jail and homeless or at risk of becoming homeless; and, having issues with alcohol and or drugs.

I developed and wrote a two page Trouble Spots For Some Veterans, and gave it to them. On their own, they were able to read about issues experienced by other veterans. During my next visit with them, nearly all of them were anxious to tell me about the things they recognized.

That was the first step in helping them, having them know there were some possible issues.

However, because I do not have Ph.D. behind my name, my simple, user-friendly helping tool, means nothing.

However, I find comfort in the fact that I was able to help several hundred veterans, including those who had expressed suicide ideation.

What matters is having an effective program available to help those veterans who recognize they could use some help.; Reply to this comment