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I just watched something on youtube that opened up saying over 30000 combat vetrans from the war in the middle east committed suicide and that was 4x as many as actually died in combat. If thats true we have a serious problem.

We absolutely have that problem. Meanwhile, money that could help get them right is spent on a fuggin somali pirate.

If you go to war and are 4x as likely to kill yourself as to be killed by the enemy, we are doing something very bad wrong. Thats just crazy to me. Whats the answer?

I served 2 tours in Nam and I can say that is probably true. Some young men cannot wrap their brain around war, Although some can it still leaves a mark that never goes away

My cousin took his life last Thanksgiving night. He was a Marine and had fought over in that Muslim crap hole. Its a sad situation. All politicians say they want to do something for our veterans but nothing ever happens, they just keep putting it in thier own pockets or sending it to some other stupid country like Ukraine.

No quick easy answers. The money the pharma and insurance companies bribe our politicians with could be spent on treating mental illnesses but that would be helpful and we can't have nice things. It's not that you want to suicide it's just you feel trapped with no way out and you hurt enough mentally you'll do anything to make the pain stop. Ugly but true. Just a kind word or a "you doing alright today?" Lifts a hurting person out of that hurt yeah something that simple helps out. No I'm not a doctor nor do I play one on the internets.

Spent almost the whole night up with my brother a few years ago.

I am so grateful he called for me to come help.

Combat and injuries in Iraq have haunted him for 20 years, He was in a bad way with alcohol and his demons had him.

Luckily he still knew he had folks who loved him but he had forgotten how much our lord and savior does also.

I just thank the lord I heard my silenced phone in the middle of the night.

It’s Been a blessing to watch him overcome alcohol and start to heal from all his wounds.

Many folks are fighting battles you often never know about

My brother in law didn't purposely do it, but drank his self to death. Was only 44. Really bad PTSD. He was a great guy. His Humvee was blown up. Hurt him pretty bad and he carried his dead best friend across a mine field. This story was confirmed by two other people at his funeral. They couldn't fly them out due to being under fire.

Thank you sir for your service . Had cousins served there . Changed their lives .

From missionrollcall.org

According to the VA’s most recent National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report (2024), an average of 17.6 veterans die by suicide every single day. Although this figure is widely accepted, the real number may be even higher.

An Operation Deep Dive report by America’s Warrior Partnership (AWP) suggests that veteran suicides are significantly underreported. AWP suggests that as many as 24 veterans die by suicide per day, with an additional 20 dying by “self-injury mortality,” often overdoses. This totals to a staggering 44 veterans who die by suicide per day, about 2.4 times more than the VA’s estimate.

Mission Roll Call acknowledges the VA’s cautious approach in classifying overdoses as suicides. But the discrepancy between these two reports highlights a deeper issue: we need better data, better definitions, and more transparent reporting. Without accurate data, prevention strategies will always fall short.

Thank you Brother! Have several friends that were over there. Had one good friend that was a Medal of Honor recipient at 18 from Vietnam.

Well, reading things like this just adds to the disgust i have for those running our country.

I’ve started and then deleted several times.

Yes, it is an enormous problem.

Absolutely grateful for anyone who served!!!

Unfortunately, many cases don’t get attention until someone gets hurt.

My uncle serves 2 tours in Vietnam. Never ever talked about it but died with a whiskey bottle still in his hand at 43

It’s serious problem that’s not being addressed properly. Things are slowly changing but still. Some folks can handle the trauma better than others, kinda depends on how you’re wired. My uncle had shell shock as dad called it. Came back from D Day totally changed.
I know a guy who’s brother in law was a tunnel rat in Nam. That guy literally locks himself in a room every night, wakes up screaming and fighting anyone in the room. Kinda why he sleeps alone.
Know a guy that saw Somalia first hand. Many self medicate with alcohol and some worse and become homeless.

I can’t imagine the trauma experienced by our troops that have seen combat and we as a country have failed them

My dad did the same just a few days before his 60th birthday.

Same…Lost 7 from my unit alone to suicide/drugs-booze since 2009…All kinds of backgrounds, all kinds of family dynamics, all races.

Th is a growing problem. The VA throws prescriptions at veterans and thinks it's the answer when it just causes a bigger issue. I've been there i know and have seen and met a lot of great people in bad spots from Vietnam veterans to current day. Please just answer the phone for someone you know and let them know you're there for them. There's some great organizations out there trying to help and raise awareness