Veterans_Suicide_and_post_traumatic_stress_disorder__PTSD__paper.docx-19.

Veterans Suicide

and

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Stephen King

Liberty University

Abstract

As a Human service professional, you will be challenged. While not all veterans have Post-

traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The fact is over 20 veterans a day choose to take their life.

health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening

event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault. The direct correlation of

PTSD and suicide is ambiguous at best.

Keywords: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicide

Veterans Suicide

The suicide rate of veterans has increased it steadily increases every year. Suicide

prevention has become crucial to help with this growing epidemic. The numbers are not going

prevention counselor at each facility. Unfortunately, this did not have the desired results and the

suicide rates of veterans actually went higher. In 2014, the VA reported that 20 veterans die each

day as a result of suicide (Kashiwa, Sweetman, & Helgeson (2017). In an effort to assist with the

growing amount of suicides the VA has a suicide hotline available every day and also offers its

services to family members and active duty personnel as well. Some risk factors for suicide

homelessness, substance abuse, mental health and lack of friends.

Resilience

In 2009, to help members of the military help them cope with negative consequences in

their life resilience became the theme. Specifically, in the United States Army an effort was

The training consisted of modules to assist all in their thoughts and how to process them

in a more effective way based on the Penn Resilience program by Dr. Karen Reivich of

University of Pennsylvania. This training was conducted in 10 days once the person had

provide them with the tools to overcome or look at it in a different way. The overall success of

this program relies heavily on the MRT. Resilience in the end is for all and helps the person

throughout their life.

Religion and Spirituality

In 2015, because the rise in suicides among veterans the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention

for American Veterans Act was passed. However, it too was not successful. One reason was lack

surpass to this day for veterans. Another approach that is starting to gather weight is the bound

of religion and spirituality and how it can help with this growing issue. “Some empirical studies

have further suggested that certain religious and/or spiritual beliefs, practices, and/or affiliations

may be protective against suicide.” (Amato et al., 2017). Therefore, one could argue a loss of

faith could be a contributing factor. Having faith in a religion or being spiritual brings purpose

to a person’s life.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who

have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (New International Version). With the

alarming rate of veteran suicides this approach of looking at the faith and spirituality of

respect, and other ideals are sorely tested by violence, suffering, and loss. Comfort that might

otherwise come from a sense of belonging can be elusive. Emotional issues like these are often

expressed in religious or spiritual terms.” (Amato et al. 2017).

Prevention

“Suicide in the U.S. military veteran population is an epidemic with a wide-ranging

impact on individuals, families, and society. Death by suicide is preventable.” (Kashiwa,

assist with the veteran suicide rising numbers. The identification of veteran suicide prevention as

a priority by the VA has elevated this type of therapy.

Suicide prevention and the effort to lower has yielded positive results according to the US

Veterans Health Administration, but troubling trends remain (Kirsch, 2018). The fact is female

VHA veterans are more likely to commit suicide using poison or firearm. While male VHA

veterans are pronged to use a firearm as the common method to commit suicide (Kirsch, 2018).

safety to assist all around the veteran in firearm awareness. Janet Kemp, the VA's National

Mental Health Director for Suicide Prevention, says: “While the overall rates of suicide among

VA patients has stayed steady over the past several years, there are indicators that VHA's

VHA utilization history, VHA-utilizing veterans were the only study group for which crude

suicide rates decreased (by 20%) over the study period.” (Hoffmire & Bossarte, 2015).

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD has been known by different names combat fatigue or shell shock to name a few.

“Suicides and officially recognized cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) represent

tangible indicators of these invisible wounds of war” (Koven, 2017). Members of the military

PTSD in itself is ambiguous in nature no one can say this directly causes PTSD it may be

an event or stress related. If you look at history one can find mentions of invisible wounds based

on combat. PTSD is one of the most common diagnosed disorder in the United States. The

origin of PTSD has been evolved from ancient texts. One myth is that only military veterans

who have experienced war are the only sufferers of PTSD. PTSD has been closely associated

with the rise of veteran suicide.

Although, PTSD may be a contributing factor to the rise of suicide among veterans it is

not the only one. “Concern about the increasing suicide rates among military members and

veterans specifically has led to a proliferation of research on potential risk factors for death from

quantifiably say PTSD and suicide are linked is unproven at best. One explanatory factor in the

PTSD-suicide linkage may be disruption to mood, including the experience of depressive

symptoms. (McKinney, Hirsch, & Britton, 2017). Also PTSD is not limited to only the military

community. The recent popularity of PTSD has been overwhelming.

Numerous things in a veteran’s life can be a cause for PTSD. Upon returning from a war

or service requiring one to do things out of the normal daily scope of living, many veterans have

people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural

disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault.

Recent studies

In a recent study of 52 veterans volunteered to look at their spirituality using a scale to

assist in determining risk of suicide the data suggests that being diagnosed with PTSD can

threaten a veteran’s faith or spirituality (Raines, et al. 2017). The scale was used to assist in the

treatment for those suffering PTSD and looks further in to the individual’s beliefs. This study

not only looked at religious struggles of the veteran’s it also looked at their demographics,

alcohol use, depression history, drug use and their post-traumatic stress. A series of tests were

conducted resulting in the hypothesis of PTSD and faith or lack of could be a higher risk for

hostility can be a coping mechanism for an underlying problem and that may lead to depression

or death. Shame and guilt these two emotions effect people in numerous ways.

Once a veteran is not in the service anymore the service being all they know it is hard to

not have counterproductive thoughts which could lead to guilt. These four emotions all

combined could be a factor in the rising number of veterans attempting suicide. A veteran is

more likely to experience life events that are also negative in nature thus compounding this with

independent predictors of suicide risk, a comprehensive model including all of these factors has

yet to be examined.” (McKinney, et al., 2017). Emotions and PTSD are both not able to be

defined as each person has different thoughts, what they feel. Emotions, what they do.

Transitioning out

Retirement, chapter and or separation these things are known as transition in one form or

another. Transition is scary and can be a negative in itself. We are all creatures of habit and

develop routines and once this is disrupted it is hard to get an edge. Once a person finishes their

time in service there needs to be more emphasis on mental health and assistance in combating

negative emotions to help the transitioning individual in their next adventure. Understanding a

more holistic way of dealing with PTSD and the thoughts and emotions surrounding an

Human service professionals could be key in this effort. Human service professionals

must have an array of characteristics these strengths could be paramount in tackling this issue. A

Human Service Professional needs an open mind and listen to other people’s perspectives. “Stop

judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.” John 7:24, (New International

Version).

To able to accomplish this on must show empathy and by doing so being able to listen to

others dealing with their problems. Compassion, towards your fellow man. Open mindedness

and the ability to listen to others without judgement. “Not looking to your own interests but each

of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:4 (New International Version). Human

Service practitioners have been embedded with those who deploy to assist in time of crisis.

(Martin, 2018).

This practice dates back to at least World War I. “PTSD and the effects on the family are

very prevalent mostly in statistics the significant martial difficulties and homelessness.” “50%