OPINION:
President Donald Trump last week signed an executive order which seeks to lower suicides rates among our nation’s veterans. The order, which would take effect in March, expands mental health services for transitioning veterans upon their return home to civilian life. Mr. Trump hailed the order as a “historic step to make sure that our incredible veterans are taken care of in a proper manner.”
The Departments of Homeland Security, Defense, and Veterans Affairs have two months to iron out the logistics of the order.
Though specifics of the order are not yet clear, the president’s actions are a positive step forward in giving transitioning veterans the mental health services they need and deserve. His commitment to these brave men and women deserves a great deal of praise and support.
It’s no secret that veterans are uniquely at risk for suicide. Though former servicemen and women make up less than 10 percent of the U.S. population, veterans account for more than 18 percent of suicides in the United States. Tragically, roughly 20 veterans will choose to end their lives today.
Suicide rates among veterans are rising far faster than rates among civilians. From 2001 to 2014, which is the latest data available, suicide rates rose 23 percent for civilians and 32 percent for veterans. That means that the risk of suicide is 21 percent higher for veterans than for civilians.
There are many contributing factors to the mental health disorders that frequently lead to suicide. According to Allison Jaslow, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, veterans often have “complex injuries” and “challenges” that civilian doctors either don’t understand or aren’t equipped to deal with. These challenges include post-traumatic stress disorder — which affects up to 20 percent of veterans — and brain injuries from battle.
She’s right — current Veteran Administration healthcare services to support veterans at home are failing spectacularly.
Every year, roughly 265,000 service members transition out of the military. Of those, nearly 6 of every 10 do not have immediate access to healthcare services upon their return home. That’s because veterans do not qualify for care until after the government determines their medical ailment is tied to their service.
The transition from military life to civilian life is often very stressful on veterans. In fact, veterans who have been home from service for a year or less are 150 to 200 percent more likely to commit suicide than other veterans.
Once they do qualify for care, VA incompetence forces veterans to languish in pain and discomfort for weeks before receiving necessary treatment at VA hospitals. As of February 2017, no fewer than 144,000 veterans waited 30 days or more to see a doctor.
Mental health services are particularly atrocious. According to a March 2017 review of more than a dozen VA facilities up and down the east coast, an astonishing 36 percent of veterans waited more than a month between primary and mental healthcare appointments.
The status quo is also failing veterans in need immediate care. Calls to the Veterans Crisis Line, for example, often go unanswered. The line was created for the sole purpose of supporting veterans and their families in dire need of mental health assistance. A March 2017 report revealed that more than 25 percent of calls go to backup centers, where dispatchers do not have adequate training and resources to assist veterans in crisis.
Mr. Trump’s executive order is a great first step in remedying these problems. His order states that transitioning veterans should have “seamless access to mental health treatment and suicide prevention resources.”
Preliminary reports of the plan include expanding the number of VA “Whole Health” facilities, which offer veterans group support sessions.
Moreover, the Department of Defense seeks to expand access to its Military OneSource program. The Military OneSource program enables veterans to receive counseling on relationships, their time in the service, their civilian transition, and more. Currently, the program is available to veterans for 180 days after they leave the military. The president’s proposed change would extend the time these services are available to 365 days after veterans leave the service.
The president’s executive order deserves praise from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Still, we can’t forget that our healthcare services are far from adequate. In the remaining years of his presidency, Trump should continue pursuing policies to support veterans.
In the meantime, expanding mental health and support services to transitioning veterans will no doubt improve the lives of America’s veterans and their families.
• Jacy Gomez, a former congressional staffer for Sen. Chuck Grassley, Iowa Republican, is a communications specialist based in Washington.
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