Page 664 - Total War on PTSD

So, when I was asked to write this chapter on the current status of the Veterans’ suicide epidemic, and how we, as a society, can improve our prevention efforts, I immediately worried that I’d be perceived in that manner — as an unsympathetic DC- insider who couldn’t relate to the real struggles faced by real Veterans contemplating suicide. After all, I’m not a Veteran myself, nor (thankfully) am I suicidal.
Although my husband is a Veteran, he never saw combat, and he was fortunate enough to transition directly from the Army into graduate school at Harvard. Despite losing my husband’s sister at a young age as a direct result of her service-connected injuries, the life my husband and I lead as it relates to his service is less-complicated than it is for many other families.
My thought process on how to approach this chapter changed when I got to know Rieman and not only learned his personal story, but when he also gave me permission to tell it here. Rieman’s story is a powerful one. Like many Veterans returning from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, Rieman’s story is one that is marked by Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, and suicide. But, unlike many Veterans, Rieman’s story is also one of success, perseverance, and a bit of luck. His suicide attempt failed and, in many ways, it was a blessing in disguise.
Despite many dark days, Rieman’s story is the story of why suicide prevention is so important. As I mentioned initially, when I first met him, I had no idea that someone who was such an integral part of our organization had such a personal tie to our mission. It was a classic example of “I’m not only a Director, but I’m also a client.” That’s when it clicked for me. Despite my time in various high-powered organizations, I would never understand the Veterans suicide epidemic until I spent more time with Veterans like Rieman who had the ability to articulate what the 20 Veterans a day who
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