[ad_1]
A memorial day, silent and solemn, at Arlington National Cemetery. The AV has considered the issue of veterans suicides.
(IStock)
According to a report released Wednesday by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the number of suicides among younger veterans has increased dramatically. (VIRGINIA)
The latest statistics show that 45 of the 100,000 veterans aged 18 to 34 committed suicide in 2016, up from 40 a year earlier.
"These findings underscore the fact that suicide is a national public health problem that affects communities around the world," said the VA in a statement obtained by The Wall Street Journal. "Our goal is to prevent suicide among all veterans – even those who do not seek and never seek care in the VA system."
The VA found that there were more than 6,000 suicides of veterans each year between 2008 and 2016. Veterans accounted for 14% of all suicides in the United States in 2016, but veterans only represent 8 % of the population, according to the report. newspaper.
In the report, the VA described suicide among veterans as an "urgent crisis," which he can not solve alone. Yet some advocates say the department has not devoted enough resources to this issue.
"If another population of 20 million people were exposed to these threats, this would be considered a public health priority," Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and US veterans of the US, told the newspaper. Afghanistan. "There has never been a call to national action."
Last year, the Inspector General of the VA found that the department's special telephone line sent a high percentage of calls to emergency centers, which was a serious shortcoming.
On Tuesday, the Inspector General also released a report after a veteran committed suicide within 24 hours after leaving a VA facility in Minnesota. The report accused the facility of not providing follow-up care to the veteran, who had been taken to the hospital for suicidal ideation.
"As many veterans do not utilize the services and benefits of VA, we need to create support, communication and care networks in communities where veterans live and thrive," he says. The report.
The data was released one day before a hearing scheduled by the House Veterans Committee. At Thursday's hearing, legislators must discuss veterans' suicide prevention efforts.
The VIP veterans' confidential line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for veterinarians and those affected. The phone number is 1-800-273-8255.
Source link
