By this time tomorrow, 130 Americans will commit suicide. Depression and mental health issues can affect us all, regardless of social status, family status, or other factors, but for men and women in uniform, the tolls are equal. is. taller than.
By 2020, almost 600 active duty soldiers Members died by suicide, and more than 200 military family members lost their lives to suicide in 2019.this taking more lives today It has surpassed the annual average number of deaths from hostilities over the past two decades, especially among women serving in the armed forces. To me it is unacceptable. You should have it too.
Those in uniform carry burdens the average American could never imagine, and the families standing beside them (many of them veterans) are also subject to the significant pressures of the military lifestyle. We are willing to make incredible sacrifices while coping. Families of sick and injured military and veterans stay at the Fisher House to see their loved ones recover firsthand from physical injuries and illnesses. It takes many years to heal even after recovery.
These stats should surprise you, but there is hope. Appropriate treatment can lead to recovery and prevention, and mental health is more than ever on our radar and national dialogue. Not enough for 2020. Less than half of US adults (46.2%) I was treated for mental illness. With 600 of his military personnel lost to suicide in one year, this is not enough.
General David Berger, 38th Commander of the U.S. Marine Corps, best said, “We must create communities where asking for help and support is a normal, important decision.”
I would love to be part of that community. Because we know that treatment works. But for treatment to be effective, it must remove the stigma, cost and bureaucracy that keep so many people from getting the help they need.
More than ever before, not only for all Americans, but for our military heroes who may be grappling with the lingering effects of war, it is now more important than ever to participate in important conversations about mental health and suicide prevention. The nonprofit community, and public and private organizations, including my organization, the Fisher House Foundation, are bringing their unique strengths to this fight against mental illness, but turning the tide. requires much more change from both local and national organizations.
Elected officials must come together to enact policies to make mental health services more accessible to all. The policy is proposed as follows.
- Post-September 11, 2021 Veterans’ Mental Health Care Improvement Act: A bill proposed to expand access to mental health care, strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs’ mental health care workforce, and support research on suicide prevention and mental health efforts.
- Legislation supporting our nation’s STRONG veteran resilience: A bill to expand culturally competent suicide prevention in VA for veterans and significantly increase mental health staffing and training in VA medical centers.
It will also bring public figures, private businesses and community leaders into the debate to normalize conversations about mental health and available resources.
Civil-military divisions continue to grow, but they need not be. You can play a role too. This National Suicide Prevention Month, we strongly encourage you to learn more about local laws and join community organizations that support your local military community. It is our responsibility to make sure that they understand that, that their sacrifice is never ignored or forgotten, and that their physical or emotional wounds are our priority. is.
We all must do our part in this battle, a duty we Americans owe to our military heroes.
Ken Fisher is Chairman and CEO of The Fisher House Foundation, a charity and foundation that builds comfortable homes where military and veteran families can stay free while their loved ones are in the hospital. For more information, dial 988 to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
