Page 674 - Total War on PTSD

want to change the way we discuss mental health – for both Veterans and non-Veterans alike — we must look far beyond legislation and into local communities to embrace a holistic approach to mental health and ultimately, suicide prevention.
One of the first things we can do is embrace public private partnerships within our communities. As the VA has acknowledged, it’s clear that the Department can’t solve this problem on its own, nor should we expect it to, when statistics show that only six of 20 Veterans who commit suicide received healthcare from the VA in the two years prior to their death. Because suicide is a complex issue that affects Veterans from all walks of life, there is no single agency or organization that can account for all causalities. Moreover, people within a Veterans’ community are more likely to know the Veteran and are therefore in a better position to spot changes in behavior, i.e., isolation that results in withdrawal from regular community activities, which may be indicative of suicidal behavior. According to the National Action Alliance for Suicidal Prevention, suicidal behavior is multi-faceted, being influenced by a combination of individual, family, community, and societal factors. Accordingly, efforts to intervene prior to a suicide taking place are more likely successful when they involve a comprehensive effort between healthcare systems such as the VA, family and friends, as well as community programs.
According to Rieman, sometimes it is friends and family members that can make all the difference in the early stages of the struggle. “If you ask for help and you’re told no [by VA or another healthcare provider], don’t stop asking,” Rieman stated emphatically, “keep going until you hear yes and you get what you need. The person who helps you doesn’t necessarily have to a be licensed professional, they just have to be able to listen.”
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