(MassLive- Jeanette DeForge) A veteran dies in one of every eight suicides statewide but there are ways those who served in the military can and should get help.
When it comes to veterans dying by suicide, the problem is clear. Why available help doesn’t reach them in time is not.
Statistics show that of the estimated 17.5 veterans who kill themselves daily across the country, more than 10 of them are not receiving services that could prevent their deaths.
“This is why it is so important to get veterans involved in VA if they are eligible,” said Jillian Hynek, suicide prevention coordinator for the Veterans Affairs Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare. The data is from 2021, the latest available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
On Thursday, a panel of elected leaders gathered at Holyoke Community College to discuss ways to reduce the suicide rate among veterans. Participants included U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a member of the Senate’s Armed Services Committee; state Sen. U.S. John Velis, who serves as chairman of both the Joint Committee on Veterans Affairs and the Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery; state Rep. Patricia Duffy and Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia.
Velis said he has searched for solutions to reduce the veteran suicide rate for years. He recently thought of joining with Warren, who has a similar position federally, and with others who work with veterans daily.
“What are we missing? What can we do better? How do we leverage some of the programs that are out there to cause these numbers to go down?” Velis asked.
Research shows that people exposed to combat are at a higher risk for suicide, though Warren noted that the numbers have not changed, even though fewer Americans are fighting overseas.
Exposure to blasts in training as well as combat may cause changes to the brain and drive up suicide rates. An examination of the brains of Navy Seal veterans who died by suicide show each one had been injured, she said.
“That by itself is not proof, but it certainly tells us a direction we need to be studying,” she said.
One of the biggest steps that can be taken to prevent suicides is simply to let veterans know they are eligible for health care through the Veterans Administration — and that they should use it, advocates say.
The Veterans Administration for Central and Western Massachusetts conducts a brief suicide risk prevention screening for veterans, even if they are at a dentist appointment, because the problem is so widespread, Hynek said.
“We need to do more outreach,” said Jered Sasen, director of veteran services for Wilbraham. “Our mantra for every show is enroll in health care.”
The one advantage Massachusetts has is that every community provides a veterans’ agent who handles a variety of issues veterans can face. If someone arrives seeking help for a mental health issue they will personally connect them with services so they don’t have to fight red tape, local officials noted at the event.
Advocates say they need more funding for outreach and proposed that $1 million a year be made available statewide for things like transportation and more staff.
Warren said that level of additional funding was likely doable. When she asked how it would be best distributed, advocates suggested it be done though a state grant system.
“We can do more and the data are showing us we must do more,” Warren said.