The Dallas V.A. Mental Health inpatient psychiatric wing had recently been shut down secondary to two veterans committing suicide while hospitalized and two veterans who committed suicides shortly after their release.
No matter how many structural changes are made to prevent opportunity for inpatient suicides- under-staffing and undertraining has been and will continue to be a problem as long as the V.A. continues to be funded by discretionary funding (verses dedicated minimum funding.).
Most veteran's families may assume that once their veteran is released from the psych floor- they are "fixed." Not so. Veteran's are at greatly increased risk for suicide in the first 6 months following their release. That is why it is so, so important to have an appointment with a medical provider, very soon after their release. Also, lack of social support (common in veterans with PTSD and TBI) increases the chances of suicide after release.
Solutions? The grieving that comes with the sudden loss of a loved one is a process (see prior post) but if you can reach within yourself and find purpose/meaning- that will help the healing begin.
God Bless-
ANJYL
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