Volume 18, No. 1, Winter 2010
While the high rate of suicides in general may be the Cape’s “hidden secret,” there also may be another ticking time bomb within our community as more and more veterans return from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The VA Outpatient Clinic has reported only one suicide attempt in recent months, but they admit they can only track those veterans who have enrolled for their services. And, no doubt, there should be more to come.
The Hyannis facility falls under the jurisdiction of the VA Medical Center in Providence, Rhode Island and Liz Holland, the Suicide Prevention Program coordinator there, said she’s hoping to partner with Cape Cod Community College to create a suicide awareness program for returning veterans.
Dr. Benjamin M. Ianzito, a staff psychiatrist at Cape Cod Hospital and consulting psychiatrist at the VA Medical Center in Washington, paints a grim picture.
While overall suicide rates in this country have remained stable, he points out that “suicide rates in the Army have doubled in the past 10 years coincident with our engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan.” That would be from nine per 100,000 to 18 since 2001.”
He adds that, “The increase is largely attributed to the high incidence of depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in military personnel.”
Dr. Ianzito notes that the Army has begun a $50 million study of the causes of suicide and there are studies on detecting signs of stress disorders, depression and substance abuse and how to make help more readily available.
“More effort is being made prior to deployment to prepare troops for anticipated stresses and make them aware of resources in the war zones and back at home,” he continues, “And Combat and Operational Stress Control Centers have been set up in Iraq and Afghanistan to provide ‘downrange’ psychiatric treatment if needed.”
To combat the stoic “warrior mentality,” Dr. Ianzito says, “Senior officers in all branches are talking openly about their own psychological problems in an attempt to counter the long tradition of denial and the entrenched perception of stigma associated with seeking help for emotional pain.”
Ms. Holland notes that the VA in this area is treating younger veterans these days than reported for treatment after the Viet Nam conflict with multiple deployments as a major factor. Personal family upset on their return is another key trigger.
Meanwhile, veterans and their families are reminded that the VA has a toll-free National Suicide Hotline (1-800-273-TALK) with specialists available 24-7 for counseling or to summon immediate help in an emergency. There also are “Transitioning Warrior” programs to help soldiers move from a “combat-zone” to a “home-zone” mentality. Plus a web site, www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
Finally, a chilling note. “Access to means” is considered a leading factor in suicide completions. That’s why policemen are rated as the greatest risk category. According to Ms. Holland, the VA now is starting a program to provide gun locks to veterans. “The veteran can keep the weapon,” she says, “but once it’s locked, the key must be given to a third party.