WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Joni Ernst, a combat veteran, called on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to address the failures of the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) outlined in a new report from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. The VCL is available to veterans experiencing suicidal thoughts, or concerned friends and family, to connect with VA responders through a 24-hour hotline, online chat, or text. The report found that the VCL failed to meet the recommendations that the OIG issued in 2016, and continues to inadequately respond to veterans’ urgent needs.
“The 2016 report regarding the Veterans Crisis Line revealed a failure to uphold the promises made to our veterans, and it is quite frankly completely unacceptable that many of these recommendations have yet to be enacted,” said Senator Ernst. “When a veteran is experiencing suicidal thoughts, or a concerned loved one reaches out to the Veterans Crisis Line, it is because the situation has reached a breaking point and a veteran’s life is in danger. The VA cannot continue to take this halfhearted approach when it comes to implementing the recommendations identified by the inspector general more than a year ago.
“I urge VA Secretary Shulkin to address this issue immediately. We must fix this severely flawed system to ensure Iowa’s veterans, and veterans across the country, have timely access to the care they need and deserve.”
The Department of Defense shows the latest suicide data is from 2014. A total of 1,126 suicide attempts were reported from the four branches of service that year.
The rate of suicide for the Active Component, all Services, was 19.9 per 100,000 Service members. This list shows the rates of suicide for the Active Component of each Service:
o Air Force: 18.5 per 100,000 Service members
o Army: 23.8 per 100,000 Service members
o Marine Corps: 17.9 per 100,000 Service members o Navy: 16.3 per 100,000 Service members
The rate of suicide for the Reserve Component of the Selected Reserve (SELRES; irrespective of duty status) was 21.9 per 100,000 Service members. The rate of suicide among the National Guard (irrespective of duty status) was 19.4 per 100,000 Service members.
Call 844-357-PEER (7337) to reach the hotline.
Dealing or believing in our PAST government would make most people suicidal. Ever had an intelligent conversation with a public servant ? Few and far between – what they don’t know – is not worth knowing according to them of course.
Just wondering, what’s the name of the public servant that told you that, I’d be interested in knowing.
That’s a shame, but that’s what we can expect from our government. Get involved in somebodies else’s business, and then when it escalates, send in the troops. 40 plus years later Viet Nam veterans are still fighting for that promise. It seems to me that our government is just stalling, until all the veterans that need help, die off.. And now, we could be heading into another conflict.