Vet Suicide on the Rise

You are correct that nearly all of America is disconnected from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. During World War II, nearly ten percent of our Nation's population deployed overseas to fight Germany, Japan, and Italy. Most streets proudly displayed blue star banners and gold star banners to show their deep involvement and strong commitment to the war. The wealthy also paid much higher taxes to support the war, there was rationing, and the economy was heavily focused on manufacturing war material.

In sharp contrast, our military today has deployed less than two million for the two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that represents less than one percent of our much larger 300 million population. The wealth are paying very little in taxes, there is no rationing, and our economy is focused on services.

Your note touches on two important issues veterans face when returning home that should be covered more by journalists. The first issue is the obvious disconnection between the heavy combat experienced by veterans and the leisurely strolls at the mall window shopping experienced by most non-veterans. Most civilians do not want to know what happened in the war. The second issue is an overwhelming sense of betrayal felt by some veterans. While in the war, our service members risked life and limb for our Constitution, yet many Americans appeared more interested in prima donnas such as Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Britney Spears, rather than in making sure our troops received adequate body armor, prompt medical care, and full benefits.

For example, VA is our Nation's second largest department, yet the current Administration still has no plan to provide long-term medical care, especially mental healthcare, for the 1.8 million service members sent to the Iraq and Afghanistan war zones. So, yes, the disconnectedness and the sense of betrayal, for some veterans, can contribute to their attitudes about society.

It can be disconcerting for service members to return to a country which often focuses on apparently trivial events. However the nation, as a whole, really honors its men and women in uniform. In addition, there are numerous excellent reintegration programs. Please go here for an example.

There has been a good deal of variability in the way that the US population views service men and women deployed to combat zones. During World War II, the home population was highly supportive and highly engaged. During Vietnam, much of the population was critical of both the war and the warriors who served. You suggest that, at this time, the home population may be going about its business quite viscerally disconnected from the war. However, others have observed that, whether or not individuals are supportive of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the population as a whole is supportive of returning service members and veterans.

Research consistently shows that social support after combat or other traumatic events can decrease the risk of PTSD. It can also increase rates of recovery for those with diagnosable mental health conditions. These basic findings demonstrate that support for our troops is more than good citizenship. It is also good public health.