VA Hid Suicide Risk, Internal E-Mails Show

[fed-up]

Source: cbs11tv dot com

April 1, 2008 8:29pm US Central

VA Hid Suicide Risk, Internal E-Mails Show
NEW YORK (CBS News) ? The Department of Veterans Affairs came under fire again Monday, this time in California federal court where its facing a national lawsuit by veterans rights groups accusing the agency of not doing enough to stem a looming mental health crisis among veterans. As part of the lawsuit, internal e-mails raise questions as to whether top officials deliberately deceived the American public about the number of veterans attempting and committing suicide. CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports.


In San Francisco federal court Monday, attorneys for veterans' rights groups accused the VA of nothing less than a cover-up - deliberately concealing the real risk of suicide among veterans.

..snip

The charges were backed by internal emails written by Dr. Ira Katz, the VA's head of Mental Health.
In the past, Katz has repeatedly insisted while the risk of suicide among veterans is serious, it's not outside the norm.
"There is no epidemic in suicide in VA," Katz told Keteyian in November.

But in this e-mail to his top media advisor, written two months ago, Katz appears to be saying something very different, stating: "Our suicide prevention coordinators are identifying about 1,000 suicide attempts per month among veterans we see in our metical facilities."

...

Read more: http://cbs11tv.com/national/VA.suicide.risk.2.705269.html

[gateley]

1. You just can't KEEP UP

with all the duplicity that's going on.

Our government is our enemy. I just can't read it any other way. :grr:

[MadMaddie]

2. There is no other way to read it.

This administration and ALL of it's political hacks that have been hired into critical roles have (as far as I am concerned committed treason). They have intentional not provided adequate care for the soldiars on edge so they could keep costs down. And if a soldiar is lucky enough to get on the list to get care it's 6 months down the road too late.

They saw this coming in 2003 and they did not escalate this and get more mental health care workers, instead they let go of state workers and hired contractors who didn't give a shit about the soldiars.

This is the Republican love the troops it's time to stop that myth in it's tracks.

[lonestarnot]

6. All the more reason to get read and keep for reference Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein

[Tiberius]

18. Reading Shock Doctrine

It has been mentioned SO many times I just had to go out and get it. It all makes perfect, perfect sense now. Chaos, disorganization, disaster, and uncertainty are the "windows" through which they can impose their twisted agenda.

None of this is the result of incompetence or poor planning. It is all deliberate.

[ogsbee]

16. Nothing short of treason

Depleted uranium munitions, incompetent VA healthcare, stoploss -- Republicans don't support the troops at all. It must just be a "noble lie" (taken from the neocon bible). Why don't the soldiers wake up? They're not serving the country, they're serving treasonous bastards.

[sam sarrha]

3. about 12 soldiers a day commit suicide.... link is in the other computer.. tomorrow

[frogcycle]

4. An example just released today

Despite PTSD, fallen soldier was determined to return to Iraq
By Michael de Yoanna,
April 21, 2008

Staff Sergeant Chad A. Barrett was determined to muddle through a third tour of duty in Iraq.

Though his medical records show he suffered from acute post- traumatic stress disorder, had difficulty sleeping and was struggling with a traumatic brain injury, he assured his commanders and doctors that he could again serve his nation. Yet, only weeks after arriving in Mosul in northern Iraq, Barrett, 35, a member of Fort Carson's 4th Infantry Division, was struggling.

"I am not getting any better, and really bad thoughts are running around my head," Barrett wrote in an e-mail to his father after five fellow soldiers were killed on January 28 in an ambush by insurgents. "Part of me wishes that one of those guys was me," he wrote. "I am goin(g) to try to talk to someone about sending me back home, cause I feel like I am just going to cause harm out here."

But Barrett would never make it home. Just five weeks into his tour, on February 2, he went to his room and swallowed a lethal combination of antidepressants and sleeping pills that were prescribed for him.

you have to scroll down to this post - there are several concatenated. He died in Feb:

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/cabarrett.htm

[Bozita]

5. There have been 3 vet stories added to LBN in the last hour. Links to the other two:

Trial in San Francisco over shoddy treatment of vets:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3277801


Talking Veterans Down from Despair (NYT):
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3277790

[fed-up]

7. one more -One of the most important trials ever involving America's vets.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local&id=6094234

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- One of the most important trials ever involving America's veterans began today in San Francisco federal court.

Two veterans groups are suing the government to improve the treatment of vets suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Those suing the US Department of Veterans Affairs say are in San Francisco to prove that the system is broken, and they say is in need of repair.

In San Francisco's federal courthouse, the treatment of veterans with mental and stress illnesses is being closely examined.

Paul Sullivan is with Veterans for Common Sense, one of the plaintiffs in this case.

"We want the veterans to be encouraged to go to V.A. if they have any problems and we want V.A. to be ready, willing and able to help the vets when they show up," said Paul Sullivan from Veterans for Common Sense.

...

[cascadiance]

8. This doesn't surprise me AT ALL! I've speculated that this was the time bomb before!

Look at this other post I made in an earlier thread... Just start looking at the numbers for past wars, and compare that to what's happening now and the variables in place, and it isn't too hard to see that the suicide number is MUCH higher than reported. And as the movie "In the Valley of Ellah" points out, probably homicide rates are probably also being underreported too and something that isn't obvious in our society!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3163202&mesg_id=3163233

[truthpusher]

9. VA Hid Suicide Risk, Internal E-Mails Show

Source: CBS NEWS

(snip)

In San Francisco federal court Monday, attorneys for veterans' rights groups accused the VA of nothing less than a cover-up - deliberately concealing the real risk of suicide among veterans.

"The system is in crisis and unfortunately the VA is in denial," said Veterans Rights Attorney Gordon Erspamer.

The charges were backed by internal e-mails written by Dr. Ira Katz, the VA's head of Mental Health.

In the past, Katz has repeatedly insisted while the risk of suicide among veterans is serious, it's not outside the norm.

"There is no epidemic in suicide in VA," Katz told Keteyian in November.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

But in this e-mail to his top media advisor, written two months ago, Katz appears to be saying something very different, stating: "Our suicide prevention coordinators are identifying about 1,000 suicide attempts per month among veterans we see in our metical facilities."

Katz's e-mail was written shortly after the VA provided CBS News data showing there were only 790 attempted suicides in all 2007 - a fraction of Katz's estimate.

"This 12,000 attempted suicides per year shows clearly, without a doubt, that there is an epidemic of suicide among veterans," said Paul Sullivan of Veterans for Common Sense.

And it appears that Katz went out of his way to conceal these numbers.



Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/21/cbsnews_investigates/main4032921.shtml

[gratuitous]

10. But how will we fund it?

Straight-Talkin' Johnny Maverick says we can't afford to give those veterans any more welfare! And STJM is the darling of the media, can do no wrong and tell no lies. So suck it up, veterans! STJM didn't have no "counseling" or "services" when he was held prisoner by the North Vietnamese!

[pecwae]

11. K&R

[bronxiteforever]

12. The Commander in Chief is directly responsible for the health of the troops

If you can dress up like an aviator on an aircraft carrier,you can at least give a crap about the lives you tore up in your freudian war.

K & R

[Uncle Joe]

13. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, fed-up

[fed-up]

14. you're welcome-I'm glad to see that MSM is picking up the lawsuit story

so that no matter the outcome of the suit at least it will make the public aware of the cover-up and the deplorable care our vets are getting

[ogsbee]

15. Maybe they should stop giving orders to shoot expectant couples racing to hospitals

Killing children, women and other civilians is hard on the soul.

[tabasco]

17. Bush has packed every corner of the government with his corrupt stooges.

It is sickening to see the corruption spread to the VA.

"HECKUVA JOB, KATZIE."