Comments on: Vet Kills Himself After VA Turns Him Away

Jonathan Schulze Suffered From Post Traumatic Stress And Was On A Waiting List

[hunter10039]

TO HIGH-UP PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF THE VA:

WAKE UP AND "SMELL THE COFFEE"!!!

IF YOU DON'T DO SOMETHING "MORE-BETTER"... TO TAKE BETTER IMMEDIATE CARE OF OUR VETS.....YOU WILL LOOSE YOUR JOBS.... JUST LIKE THE
WALTER-REED HOSPITAL FOLK DID !!!!

[garvin54]

Our husbands, brothers, sons, daughters, wives are fighting for something to keep others free in a country where they will always be fighting and the civil war within the country will never end. I am thankful for those who gave their lives to keep American free. I am thankful that I was born and raised in a country where I can speak my mind and not end up in jail for my opinion. I thank God to have the freedoms that we have, but I do not appreciate our families loosing loved ones to get involved in a war that will NEVER end. I am so sorry that this family and many others are loosing their loved ones. I do not look forward to the day that my "son" will be entering the Army and then the day that he calls to tell me he is going to Iraq! I know that we as a society do not do enough for our veterans who give of their all for our safety and the freedoms that I value.

[kaseyus]

I feel sad for all veterans who didn't receive the care they needed. The blame should fall on the VA office. They are shortstaffed but it is not because no one wants to work for them. The real reason is because they are "picky" about whom they want to hire. I know because my husband applied for a position as a Clinical Psychologist at some of the VA Hospitals. Unfortunately, they told him that he didn't meet the requirements. He is a licensed, Ph.D., but just because he didn't meet some outdated pre-doctoral internship requirement, they rejected him. What is important? That the person has 10 years of experience working with people who are suffering from PTSD and have mental health as well as substance abuse issues? Or that the person didn't complete his pre-doctoral internship at an APA accredited college? Hey! he graduated from an APA accredited college but that doesn't count!! I guess the VA Office have their priorities all screwed up and who suffers because of that? Our veterans!!. It's time that changes are made to the system.

[miggyinct]

Musty2U & like-minded folks: 1)I'm shocked, appalled,amazed, pick-your-adjective by your lack of empathy for this young man & his family 2)Medical service-related disability has always been "easier" to obtain than psychiatric, unless you have Gulf-War Syndrome or another illness the government does not recognize 3)Durham, NC isn't St. Cloud, MN - last I knew there were 2 major hospitals in your immediate community, one of which is a University-affiliated medical center (Duke) compared to the 66 bed Hutchinson Medical Center. I guess he and his parents didn't have many choices of where to seek treatment, or maybe b/c he didn't have insurance and the VA was the only place he could be seen 4)Blaming his parents and friends for his suicide is unconscionable. 5) But, at least we agree that his death was needless...

[musty2u]

Jc, all finance bills originate in the Senate. Bush is not there. Blame the right source.

[musty2u]

I'd have to see the admission/intake documents. There are some pretty feeble sick-bay commando stories I could relate were we able to go get a cup of coffee. The hemorrhage scenario wouldn't end the way you guessed. Most conditions have a protocol (imagine that) and the ol' bleeder is going to get taken care of. Nut cases, on the other hand are going to require the duty shrink to evaluate - not just a regular MD. I say the guy didn't present as a credible suicide/psychiatric patient. Happens all the time. We just have to wait and see the full play.

[teeus]

Musty, I did read the entire article, thank you.

"The guy went to the VA, got a little miffed over the line (my God, he had to wait to be seen!), aborted his own trip there, and left. It is a wonderful system to just complain about, so he did."

I wouldn't be so hard on the young man's critical thinking skills, my self. I don't think you should required to be super-sharp and ready to combat a bureaucracy
when you%u2019re feeling suicidal. I think the two are mutually exclusive.

Let's put this another way. Guy walks up to the VA. Says "my leg has become severed and I think I may bleed to death." VA admitting clerk says: Come back tomorrow.

So, nice young man puts on a make shift tourniquet and manages to make it through the night. Next day he's told have a seat--your number 26.

Ummm, no. That's a pretty ****-poor response. If you are triaging mental health issues, and someone says I'm going to bleed to death/I'm feeling suicidal YOU ADMIT THEM NOW. NOW. And if your little clinic is set up to take emergency admits, you get him to a hospital that can. You DON'T let him wander away.

[everrea104]

Another needless war, just like Veit Nam it is a no win situtation, The care for our vets haven't change much either, and Bushey wants to send more money and more troups with out taking care of our owen . They ask why is our military not getting men and women to join? Well it doesn't take a rocket scienctist to know why, You get all these promises only to come home to nothing, Promises are put on hold or either you don't come home alive. I support our troups now get them the hell out of there if you don't want to take care of them. No miliary soldier should have to wait and go thur tons of paper work before getting taken care of. They are the heros,and should get what they deserve

[roger_inkart]

Another tragic casualty in a pointless, stupid war.

[zahrabrooks]

Bush really infuriates me. Veterans should be treated well after they have been placed in harms way. The Iraq's who work as translaters should be given asylum in the U.S. I can't believe the coldness of our government.