How do we understand and do something about veteran suicide? First we need to understand suicide itself. Typically, when someone kills themself three things have happened. In reality it’s obviously more complicated than this, but it is a good place to start: 1) They are in long-term physical and/or emotional…
Here is another heartbreaking story about the toll of war on our special forces. They are the best trained of our Armed Forces, yet as I hammer home in my workshops and lectures, life can break anyone. Yet, Special Forces suicide has become an all too common reality. http://p.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/18/special-forces-suicide-rates-hit-record-levels-cas/ This…
Police officers with PTSD is a problem impacting departments all over the country. Sadly, it is a problem that seems to always hit a wall. The blue wall. Twice in the last few days I was reminded of the police “Blue wall of PTSD.” The first was at a workshop…
As Iraq falls, souls crumble. That is what I was thinking last week as ISIS overran northern Iraq. I was getting ready to hit the road for Wisconsin where I would be speaking to veterans benefits and services counselors from colleges across Wisconsin, but all I could think about was…
Wilfred Owen (1893-1918) was probably the greatest war poet. He was killed in battle just a week before WW1 ended and his untimely death more than anything is probably the reason he didn’t receive the same fame as his friend and fellow poet, Siegfried Sassoon. His life ended at just…
How about a veteran revolution? We live in such a black and white world, that it seems everything is a two-sided argument. In the middle of these verbal battles though we can forget there are people. I see it everyday with veterans and issues like PTSD. The government spends millions,…
