Suicides Seen Among Vets Treated By VA

CBS News: VA Patient Data Reveals Growing Number Of Suicide Attempts By Veterans

(CBS)  There's new information about the risk of suicide for those who have served in the military. Last November, CBS News broke the story of the overwhelming number of veteran suicides nationwide. Now, Chief Investigative Correspondent Armen Keteyian has discovered veterans who get help from the VA are also at risk.

"When you go through war, you're going to change permanently and totally for the rest of your life," said veteran Harold Pendergrass.

Pendergrass knows firsthand the hidden wounds of war. He served two tours in Vietnam.

"I carried a suicide note in my pocket for years," he said.

At 57, the former Army soldier has tried to take his own life three times, constantly wrestling with thoughts of killing himself.

"I sat around numerous times with a .44 in my mouth," he said. "But for some reason, I just couldn't pull the trigger. I don't know why."

Now, CBS News has obtained never-before seen patient data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, detailing the growing number of suicide attempts among vets recently treated by the VA.

The data reveals a marked overall increase - from 462 attempts in 2000 to 790 in 2007.

"This is highly statistically significant," said Dr. Bruce Levin, head of the biostatistics department at Columbia University. Levin is one of three experts who analyzed the data for CBS News.

"I'd characterize it as something that deserves further attention," Levin said. "Overall the data suggests about a 44 percent increase and that is not due to chance."

According to the experts, two age groups stood out between 2000 and 2007. First, ages 20-24 - those likely to have served during the Iraq-Afghan wars. Suicide attempts rose from 11 to 47.

And for vets ages 55 to 59, suicide attempts jumped from 19 to 117.

In both age groups, the attempted suicides grew at a rate much faster than the VA patient population as a whole.

In addition, this VA study, also obtained exclusively by CBS News, reveals the increasing number of veterans who recently received VA services ... and still succeeded in committing suicide: rising from 1,403 suicides in 2001 to 1,784 in 2005 - figures the VA has never made public.

Rep. Bob Filner is chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. He's been critical of the VA's unwillingness to provide a full accounting of veteran suicides.

"These are incredible figures," he said.

"Does it surprise you that a study like that even exists?" Keteyian asked.

"Well, given the fact that we keep asking for data and they say, 'we don't have any,' yes, it surprises me," Filner said.

It angers Filner. "If we can't get the correct information, we can't do our job. We can't prevent every suicide but you can prevent a whole lot of them and it's our duty as a nation to do that."

The VA declined to speak on-camera about this story, but in an e-mail, said it "takes the issue of veteran suicide very seriously" and "has been doing a thorough data investigation to document the number of patient suicide attempts…"

It insists the patient suicides are "...consistent with national trends," despite recent studies that show veteran suicide rates are substantially higher than those of non-veterans.

But Harold Pendergrass worries the VA remains ill-prepared to handle the next generation of veterans who will be fighting the horrors of war … for decades to come.

"If what the VA is doing is not working then they need to change tactics," Pendergrass said. "They need to listen to these guys and listen not only with their ears but also with their hearts."

[singingrick]

When these soldiers come back broken in body and mind, they find out that "support the troops" is just another Republican bumper sticker.

[naucoming4u]

Has there ever been a time when our government actually made every effort possible to actually care for the brave men and women who fight for this country after they return from the battlefield?

[naucoming4u]

When these soldiers come back broken in body and mind, they find out that "support the troops" is just another Republican bumper sticker.

Posted by singingrick at 08:01 PM : Mar 20, 2008
..........

Bumper stickers, of which are sold at WalMart and made in China.

[gkc99]

Don''t worry soldiers--the Repug Neocon Scum will slap another ribbon magnet on their SUV if your blow your brains out from remorse or depression.

[timdgrim]

Our country fails to give support to our veterans.
These brave men and women give their all for this country and this government seems to just use them for their purpose and casts them aside and moves on to the next crop. A flag lapel pin, a bumper sticker or a overused phrase "thanks for your service to our country" is not enough. Take care of these people.
They sacrificed and they deserve the best care.

[timdgrim]

Thank you Mr. Statistics!

[faithlove1]

My response doesn''t matter but the VA in Fayetteville and Wilmington NC is in great need for a major overhaul. I am a veteran and feel that they just do not care. This has been my experience. This is just one of many examples of their ignorance towards veterans. I called the VA in Fayetteville, (Nurse Health Line) and no one called me back......days later I called the (Nurse Help Line) again because I thought I had a hernia and was in pain,...mind you I have to drive over two hours to get there. After several attempts and no return calls...I just drove there with my child. I said I thought I had a hernia. I complained about the hotline and the clerk says...At least you are here now. Anyway, The nurse touched my abdomen and said you have a hernia, gave me two shots on my bum and sent me on my way. A week later I am still in pain. They only have one or two counselors in Wilmington and you have to take it or leave it. I have to beg for care. If they refer you out...then they feel that they are no longer responsible for your care and to top that off they take forever to pay the contractor which makes the veteran look bad and makes the contractor not want to deal with veterans. They have very bad attitudes. I feel like I have to move to get the care that I am entitled to. Maybe the government should just provide veterans with health care insurance so that we may get the care that we need and deserve. I am not surprised by all of the suicides

[raised4952]

these studys dont show how many soilders has gone over seas and came back addicted to herion.

[cyberus-2009]

----
When these soldiers come back broken in body and mind, they find out that "support the troops" is just another Republican bumper sticker.

Posted by singingrick at 08:01 PM : Mar 20, 2008
..........

Bumper stickers, of which are sold at WalMart and made in China.

Posted by NAUcoming4U at 08:04 PM : Mar 20, 2008
----
Which are right next to the ribbon stickers and magnets made in china.

Bumper stickers and ribbon stickers ....

.... LITERALLY the LEAST you can do.

[ringading3]

How many young people go to San Francisco, get AIDS and addicted to heroin? So many of them jumping off the Bay Bridge, they want to put up barriers to stop the suicide attempts.

[ringading3]

This month the nephew of Lt Gov Mitch Landrieu and Senator Mary Landrieu, killed his wife. Then Stephen Landrieu killed himself. The PR representative told the press it was a "mercy killing" because the wife did not have health insurance. I don''t think he was a vet. The Landrieu family as millionaires, may have had access to the finest doctors. But maybe not.

[ringading3]

Who knows why people commit suicide? Kinda hard to get the TRUE story after the successful attempt.

[art1947-2009]

for vets (and others) with PTSD, depression and other problems

check out http://www.emofree.com/

exceptionally powerful tool - I''ve used it with excellent results in my medical practice

[shanev137]

A long time ago I had a friend who told me he was suicidal. He told me it was a thought battle in his head that would randomly click on and off wherever he was at. It would completely take over his thoughts and put visions in his mind of him killing himself. He told me that deep down he really didn''t want to do it, but could not overcome the powerful thoughts. He claims that one day, for no apparent reason, the thoughts just left and never came back and then he was fine again.

Weird stuff.

[andor3]

PTSD, and even suicidal thoughts are not disorders, they are how NORMAL humans react to the unrelenting stresses of modern combat. A person would be a little scary if he/she went through combat and did not have some effects.

Now we created this--the number of people who have been in combat goes up every single day. It is our (i.e government, taxpayers, all Americans) to take responsibility for helping these men and women who have served, integrate into civilian society. If they fail to, we have failed.

[apprxam]

Watching Fredrick Kagen and Richard Perle on Charlie Rose tonight was positively sickening. No matter the blood spilled or money wasted; good after bad is the order of the day. The destruction of the soldier''s lives, bodies, families and trust is behind disgust, but not to these two. The villainy is astounding and knows no bounds.

Kegan preps you into the doldrums with his "I didn''t support they way Bush''s administration handled the peace, or how " too little troops wasn''t the cause but the symptom", of not perceiving the nature of the enemy. Kristol, Brooks and all of the other Neo-con:men constantly does this over and over again. Kristol, with that stupid smirk he inserts after proclaiming his willful ignorance to the art and execution of all things military is par for the course and has been the neo-con''s universal talking points for the last three years. Playbook denial!

[apprxam]

That said, it''s Perle who makes you wonder if you should burp or throw-up first after you hear the duplicitous garbage that trundles out of his lying mouth. Nearly every word has no meaning at all. Where to begin: He proclaims the report regarding Sadaam''s connection to Al Qaeda to be merely interpolated by the press and not a true reflection of the " great intellectual effort" made by those of who authored the report. Rose asked if there was a connection, any what-so-ever to tie "Al Qaeda" with Sadaam. He say that there wasn''t, but that there were loose connections between Sadaam, other terrorist organizations and by default, or definition or six degrees of separation, there was proof that Sadaam was, almost or tangentially--I say imagined--involved with this specific group, even though he didn''t, or hadn''t or wasn''t. Just believe it to be and it shall be so.

McCain can''t tell the difference form Iraq and Iran, Clinton can''t remember if she''s for or against the war and Obama''s narrow Chicago School policy wonks and mildly articulated position leaves open the door for these cowardly, draft dodging, weak men at the AEI and Heritage Foundation to continue to unduly influence the direction of foreign an military policy at the detriment of soldiers lives, public dollars and national salubrity.

The weak proclaim patriotism the loudest because it''s hard to be heard from the back row. (Posted elsewhere)

[andrew_693]

So the number of dead in this war is far higher than we were lied to so far.

[mcvet]

Incredible how you schmucks are stupid ! This has nothing to do with this article but then again you libs like to use the internet for everything. And no I will not use a spell check since you all love to put down everyone so you can feel better about your selves.


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Posted by jb01201a at 02:45 AM : Mar 21, 2008
+ report abuse

Blab, blab, lib''s, blab, blab... I do wish the Reich would teach you bootlickers a new line or two!! Sieg Heil Bush

[fibonacci_]

sweeetreeed suffers from schizophrenia, almost definately.

[Renegade.Rivers]

All I can tell you is that if you haven''t been there you got no idea what it''s all about. Which means the majority of you are totally freaking clueless. Oh yea, you can say you understand, and that you are sympathetic, but you don''t, and you really aren''t, because you neither understand, nor do we want your sympathy.

I am a Vietnam Vet, served there in 1971 and 1972, and then came home to a family in turmoil, due to my father''s death. I was 18 when I left, and 19 when I got back. I had just gotten out of the hospital a few weeks prior to that after being wounded by a mortar attack in which I one of my best friends. When I came back, I was greeted at Oakland by about 100 demonstrators who threw bags of urine and human excrement at us. It was the beginning of a long low point in my life. My first attempt at suicide was 14 days after I came back for his funeral. I cut both my wrist, and would have bleed to death, but my mother came home early from work and found me.

Back then they didn''t even know what PTSD was, and when I was sent to a psychiatrist, he had me beating a rubber bat on the floor, like that was suppose to help. I never went back.

[Renegade.Rivers]

or the next four years, I struggle to maintain control. I couldn''t work, my nerves were so bad that I would be up all night, just trying to make sense of things that made no sense. Then when I went to work the next day, I''d find myself being treated like some ******* kid who knew nothing. I started drinking and taking pills, and hanging out with other vets who had been there. We all rode Harleys, and lived on the edge of society. Everyday was a deathwish, we''d run our Harleys down the rode at a hundred miles an hour, just hoping our card would flip. We didn''t care.

In 1974 I met my first wife. She was a cute young thing, but she had no idea who I was, or what I was all about. By 1976, I was deep in the troughs of PTSD, I couldn''t sleep, the nightmares were always there, I couldn''t relax, and I was in bad shape. When my wife got pregnant, I couldn''t support her, and due to a bad pregnancy she could no longer work. She went back home to her mom and dad.

About a month later, I ran my truck into a bridge abutment, I was seriously injured, but lived through it. After a month in the hospital, I came home to find divorce papers hanging on my door. I called one of the few friends I had, and went on a drunk that lasted for days. There was still no light at the end of the tunnel.

[Renegade.Rivers]

The next year, I met my second wife. She was in the medical profession, and worked nights. I''d drink and get so drunk, that would pass out just to get some rest. I tried to go back to college, but I just couldn''t do it. The lies, and bullcrap they taught was at the time worthless. Then I caught her cheating on me. I waited at home for her to come home with a loaded shotgun. I was going to kill her, but by the time she showed up, I was passed out. So she left me, and went to live with the other guy, who turned out to be a child molester who abused my son. When I found out about it, he left town, never to return. I would have killed him in an instant, had I got my hands on him.

I rode the roller coaster for years. Drugs, booze, and what ever else I could find to take my mind off of what was going on in my head. I spent time in psych wards, and rehab centers, all for naught. In 1980, I again tried suicide, by taking downers. I was on life support for three days before I finally came out of a coma.

[Renegade.Rivers]

By then there was some admittance to the fact that PTSD did actually exist, and in 1981 I started going to a VVA (Vietnam Veterans of America) PTSD group. After about a month, of going, it was disclosed that two people in the group weren''t even Vietnam Veterans, but instead undercover cops, who were investigating illegal firearms violations, and drugs.
At that point I realized I could trust no one. I again attempted suicide by taking 58 Siniquin. Again I was found, by a friend and rushed to the hospital. My stomach was pumped, but I stilled ended up in a coma for over a week. When I got out of the hospital I was taken to a VA hospital and put in a lockdown ward, where I remained for the next two months. During that stay, I meant a counselor who was himself a Vietnam Vet. He was the only one I had met up to that point, who had any idea what I was going through, and with his help, I began to put the pieces back together, at least for a while.

I could go on, but whats the use. All I can say is that my heart goes out to the many veterans who are coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan. I know there rows aren''t going to be any easier to hoe than mine were, and I can only hope that they can find a person who will take the time to try and understand them, and not just write them off a crazy idiots. Unfortunately, those people are few, and far between.

[louklou51]

This does not surprise me a bit, our veterans have frequently gotten the short end of the stick when it comes to mental health care due them, war is hell and has been from the beginning, why can''t the VA admit it and help them? Are you hearing this, Dubya?

[woodjd42]

renrivers,

I like you and many, many other Vietnam Vets had very similar life. Only I been married five times and getting ready to divorce again. I cry every time I see coverage of these young men and women now exposed to this war. I don''t know about you but even now I get upset when these people now days say "thank you for your service" or "welcome home." Where the hell were they 40 years ago?

I would like it very much if you would email me and maybe we can talk. My email is [e-mail]

[nikkicatt1]

My husband came back from Vietnam a totally different person. He had extreme nightmares and even blacked my eye in his sleep. He was depressed and withdrawn all the time. All the V.A. did was give him hard narcatics that made him a semi-vegetable. I started researching and talking to other wives. I made him quit taking his meds and start talking about it. I wobn''t go into the gory details, but after SEVERAL years I got my man back. NO THANKS TO THE VA! The main reason I am against any war, is that our soilders are treated like cannon fodder. Let the politicians send their kids first. Let them be maimed or killed first. Let them - I am sorry I can''t go on. This is something that tears at my very soul.

[jersupporter]

Blab, blab, lib''''s, blab, blab... I do wish the Reich would teach you bootlickers a new line or two!! Sieg Heil Bush Posted by MCVet
------------------------------
I thought that MCVet was perhaps just another statistic after reading this story. But he is still here and still mindless.

[armydog2]

I work at a VA hospital in Penna. The number of suicides as a result of this war is almost epidemic in nature.We failed the VietNam Vets when they needed help, we cannot repeat that same mistake.Proper screening for PTSD immediately upon their return home to the states is essential and so far has not been happening.A lot of suicides are happening overseas and the signs and symptoms are being ignored by the military command. This is a very real problem and as a Nation we owe it to these young men and women to care for them.

[Renegade.Rivers]

... I am sorry I can''''t go on. This is something that tears at my very soul.

Posted by nikkicatt1

----------------------------------

Your Vietnam Vet is a lucky man to have had someone like you to stand by him. I offer you a sincere "Thank you," for doing so. I know without any doubt that you must have went through he11 to be where you are today. I have little doubt that being the partner to a war veteran is one of the hardest paths one can choose. Your love, tenacity, and devotion are evident.

One of the shocking things I have learned through the years is that just how many Vietnam Veterans have had multiple marriages, and by that I don''t mean just a couple. Most of us are in our 50''s and 60''s, and many of us have been married 3 times or more. I personally have been married 6 times.

None of us from the war came home the same, one day we chasing girls, and listening to rock and roll. The next we were chasing Charlie and ready to "rock and roll." The next we were back in "the world," and called "baby-killers." How can any lover or anyone else for that matter ever really understand.

I hope that some point you might feel the urge to share your experiences and your knowledge with some of the wives of Veterans now coming home. I am sure they could do well from what you have learned and experienced.

God bless and keep you and yours.

[andrew_693]

it''s very difficult to get out of the depression you bring from war. You see things and do things you end up regretting later. This is why instead of doing the idiotic thing, like some of these fear mongering morons on the right want, we need to try to find another way of resolving the issues. But then again those on the right rarely have had the nerve to serve in the military, they rather hide and send others who have less money to their immediate deaths or suicides later. I have friends that went and came back looking like 50 years old. A lot of them end up with their lives ruined usually, from job to job, (that friend I mentioned is bankrupted)or homeless, nightmares, even if they didn''t kill an innocent person, someone they know did and they feel guilty because betraying them is unthinkable, they run into paradoxes in their lives constantly and wonder if they did the right thing, if the war was necessary, some of them end up the rest of their lives convincing themselves it was the right thing, so they watch the lies of foxnews all day, even though inside they know it''s not going well. Rarely people involved in murder turn in their buddies or superiors, we really don''t know how many innocent people our troops murdered and placed a weapon in their hands in order to cover themselves, we will never know.

[Renegade.Rivers]

Blab, blab, lib''''''''s, blab, blab... I do wish the Reich would teach you bootlickers a new line or two!! Sieg Heil Bush Posted by MCVet
------------------------------
I thought that MCVet was perhaps just another statistic after reading this story. But he is still here and still mindless.

Posted by JERSupporter

------------------------------------
You can say what you want, but there is little doubt that our country is on the verge of becoming a fascist
state. What I am wondering though, is how do you live with the lies? Do you not know what is really happening, or don''t you care? It''s people like you, who are backing this diabolical regime; that is now in office, that is giving all Americans a bad name.

You may not see or realize it now, but you will pay, and pay and pay. It may not be now, but it will come around to bite you in the butt. Whether it is in taxes, or in blood. How will you explain to your grandchildren how you traded their inheritance for a few cheap lies?

[andrew_693]

There are no civilized wars, all the technology has not prevented over 2 million refugees and thousands killed by the invaders, al quaeda and the insurgents, even though the so called experts that appear advising keep telling us of how wonderful war is now. It is always a tragedy.

[Renegade.Rivers]

andrew_693

Points well spoken.

The diabolical regime that we now have in power is not a representation of the average American. The vice pungent even expressed that in a recent interview, when ask what he thought about the majority of Americans being against the war. His reply, "So." He reminds me of the the "know-it-all" punk we all hated in high school.

[jersupporter]

You can say what you want, but there is little doubt that our country is on the verge of becoming a fascist
state. What I am wondering though, is how do you live with the lies? Do you not know what is really happening, or don''''t you care? It''''s people like you, who are backing this diabolical regime; that is now in office, that is giving all Americans a bad name.

You may not see or realize it now, but you will pay, and pay and pay. It may not be now, but it will come around to bite you in the butt. Whether it is in taxes, or in blood. How will you explain to your grandchildren how you traded their inheritance for a few cheap lies? Posted by renrivers
----------------------------
So what can be done besides whining on this website message board? What have you personally done? Do not claim to know what is really going on and just complain on a message board, wave a flag and put a yellow ribbon on your car? That is hypocritical.

[GulfVet]

As a Desert Storm Vet,

who was gassed and also exposed to biological agents over in the first Gulf War, I have also tried the suicide route. The guilt and frustration that you bring back to the real "world" after a war, never seems to go away, and if it were not for finding Christ, Prozac, and Morphine for injuries sustained plus about a dozen other medications I''m on, and also being blessed with a loving wife and family; I no doubt would not be here today to spend Easter with my Wife & kids...

[ghostcommand]

Each veteran should be evaluated by a competent private doctor and then be issued a medical debit card they can use in their own community. I am a veteran that has used the VA and the majority of the doctor''s, nurses, and the bureaucracy itself does not function very well. If you have a problem, it could take 4 years to resolve that problem. If one moves to another geographical you start all over again. If there are journalist''s that are veteran''s then there is a good story in this ''cuckoo nest.''

[namesnames]

why does every topic discussion come to laying blame on liberals or conservatives? the VA is the problem here and has been poorly administered since it''s inception, regardless of which political party is in control. it is the nature of any governmental entity run by incompetent people(democrats or republicans)

[prinzowhales]

And, its just a coincidence that the fascists call any set of symptoms they can''t--or won''t--treat medically, PTSD and prescribe anti-depressants...a side effect of which is suicide...

Its just a coincidence that vaccinations can lead to low grade brain inflammation and followed by pesticide exposure can cause more damage...AND that this leads to depression and suicide AND anti-depressant use.

Check out Dr. Blaylock''s work on vaccinations...you can find articles and links, I believe, at Dr. Mercola''s site as well.

[joyous88]

500 billion for Wall Street

but these criminal AntiAmerican republiCONs

will not spend a dime for a disabled Veteran

animals

[joyous88]

republiCons are facists

nazi fascists

your children will have to pay the taxes to pay off

the communist chinese government

we owe the chinese one trillion dollars

[art1947-2009]

for vets (and others) with PTSD, depression and other problems

check out http://www.emofree.com/

exceptionally powerful tool - I''''ve used it with excellent results in my medical practice including an Iraq vet with PTSD

[testvet]

As a disabled vet with PTSD and rated 100% I have attempted suicide 3 times, I still think about it at times, the VA gives me enough drugs that doing it, isn''t a problem, it''s the harm I would cause my wife and children, the government would help them less if I was not here, than they do with me here. The system is messed up for the families of disabled veterans.

[joyous88]

namesnames

that a Lie

I have been in the VA system for 30 years

it was gutted by BUSH to pay for his war

it worked fine until some'' heck of a job'' bushie

took over

[randynason]

Maybe it''s because the administration hasn''t cared to address the PTS situation adequately. I keep tellin'' ya, we need to get WAR CRIMES on the Congressional agenda. What the people have allowed to go on for five years now is illegal and immoral and the administration needs to be held accountable.

[hotpaulie]

King George is a war criminal and should be treated as one. Waterboarding is not out of the question.
God bless all you veterans, and don''t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. You are not alone.

[sgtrds]

namesnames

that a Lie

I have been in the VA system for 30 years

it was gutted by BUSH to pay for his war

it worked fine until some'''' heck of a job'''' bushie

took over

Posted by joyous88 at 11:08 AM : Mar 21, 2008

I agree. I''ve always had good service at the VA (granted I only used them a few times) and so have most of the vets I know, until the last few years. The idea that the VA has always been scr*ewed up makes for some good movies, but it''s a myth.

[vet999999]

"The data reveals a marked overall increase - from 462 attempts in 2000 to 790 in 2007."

Wonder what rocket scientist was impressed with these number...prior to 2000 we were not at war...coulda had someting to do with it...ya think? Way to go CBS. We would be better served if the conversation was about how to transition people back to this back stabbing civilian life...that is the real issue.

[sgtrds]

Suicides climbing is no surprise given how unpopular this war is. Soldiers get depressed when they realize that they''re being sent to fight for nothing more then the profit of a few already rich people and nothing else. The realization that this war has nothing to do with defending America or fighting for freedom or stopping terrorism, but was started just to make money would depress anyone.

[vet999999]

I wonder, and this is a serious question, how much of the doubt, guilt etc that a veteran bears when he/she returns is created or elevated by the garbage the press puts out? THis war, and Vietnam, the press is painting our troops as war criminals and I cannot help but think this makes it harder on the people trying to transisition from a very trusting environment to this cut throat society.