A bipartisan group of 34 senators sent an urgent message to the Department of Veterans Affairs calling on them to help struggling Afghanistan veterans.
The senators, led by Maggine Hassan (D-NH) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), are urging the VA to “quickly develop a comprehensive outreach plan” to help Afghanistan and Global War on Terror veterans get their VA services and benefits.
Their call for action comes after a new report was released that shows an increase in calls to veterans’ suicide hotlines amid the turmoil in Afghanistan.
“We write in light of the recent events in Afghanistan to encourage the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to quickly develop a comprehensive outreach plan to connect Afghanistan and Global War on Terrorism veterans to VA benefits and services,” the senators stated.
“More than two million veterans served during the Global War on Terrorism, including more than 800,000 in Afghanistan, and these service members deserve and earned the support that they need. We appreciate the VA’s commitment to providing mental health services to all veterans and ask, in light of the current situation, that the Department accelerate its efforts to provide resources – to veterans of these recent conflicts.”
The senators noted that the group with the highest suicide rates are former service members between the ages of 18 to 34. They went on to say that many veterans are not using the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) services which are meant to help prevent suicide among veterans. So now they are urging the VA to do more.
“For this reason, we ask that the VA develop a comprehensive outreach plan to connect Afghanistan and Global War on Terrorism veterans to VA benefits and services. This plan must proactively contact veterans in the coming months through means including, but not be limited to: digital correspondence, social media, phone calls, and text messages,” the senators said.
“Furthermore, VA’s outreach should consist of detailed information on clinical mental health services and community-based support systems, such as Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and VA Vet Centers. For example, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is just one of many VSOs that helps connect veterans to services critical to mental health and overall well-being.”
After numerous conversations and also getting promps from point A to Z it appears to me from my experience that VA is not concerned with my death. Thay are concerned with the ass chewing they MAY get when we commit suicide. Oh well ,same old same old shit, never really changes just faces and personnel. Different day and same squawking, nonsense as years ago.
I totally agree with your statements!!!! My husband broke his back in the 70’s & tried so hard to get help but didn’t get anything!!!!! He passed away last July! We bought our home through Cal Vet & they’ve been working with me! So I’m grateful to Cal Vet for the help!! But now I’ve been getting e-mails that he qualifies now, but they are a little to late now that he has passed away with a rare blood cancer!!!!!
Right on.
How true…
the VA Motto: VETERAN’S LIVES DON’T MATTER, NEVER DID!
It took 30 plus years for my copal tunnel hand problem to affect my nerves in the wrist – hand became almost useless. I had to have surgery in both hand in 1995 & 1997. The VA did not recognize my injury from operating an air chisel for months chipping paint off a gun fire director – Flushing Navel yard, New York in 1962. The repeating vibration of the chisel cause nerve damage in both wrist. It took 30 years for the damage to show up.
In 1982, I had gone to the VA for help and was told that there was nothing they could do. Todate, the VA still refuses to acknowledge the nerve damage.
Google, va repeating vibration of using equipment chipping paint causing carpal tunnel in wrist.. Look into it as a presumptive nurological service connected disabilities. You have a Primary disability, and suffer with a secondary condition psychological, causing anxiety and depression and affects your quality of life, and not able to enjoy the things you once were able to do. I hope this will help.
Funny how many retired “Lifers” went back as Military Contractors, died, played “Dodge Rocket”, lived in the same squalor. manned the same burn pits, served in multiple places (for me Bagram, K-2, and As Sayliyah in total from 17 Mar 2004-25 Oct 2008 (44 months), but aren’t mentioned, because we’re retired.
I love and respect my Brothers and Sisters in Arms, past, present, and future! Unfortunately my 44 months service was as disrespectful by Reserves and active duty as by the civilians when I first began my service 30 May 75 (through 30 Nov 95, 20 years, 6 months and 1 day (Although as a delayed enlistment Mar 75 until 6 days after High School graduation, my retirement is paid at 20 years, 8 months, and 7 days).
Not meaning to sound bitter sitting here VA SERVICE CONNECTED 100% Permanent and Total Disabled + SMC-S for greater than 60% more on SSA Disabled at 58 (2015) and Medicare and TRICARE For Life at 60 (2017). There are a lot like me and worse off. Show a little respect for all who have served and those that stood up and answered the call again. In my case, 1 year and 4 days after my 4th Heart event ( a By-Pass!
Im a the son of a permanently totally disabled veteran 100% service connected. I am a “Disabled veteran”, Father of 3 daughters, and after 26 years, You, still yet to pay me my monthly disability and its sad when SSA, SENDS a letter telling me another entity is responsible for me, no! That is correct. The va, not ssa is supposed to be and im a homeless veteran at that, and not to mention, disabled ! The 1st time in 98 and you do the rest. My ss #257513606! July 3rd. 1974. My father was sucked into intake of f4phantom. Do u see where I’m headed. My life is missing 1 thing besides my left leg, that I bew off with a 44 magnum rifle.
But you lose respect for a man its gard to look at him and he knows that. I think I want someone. especially if I get my fiance and her mother, who is a sweetheart of a lady, and I love her daughter so much. I can’t get in touch with her. I stood in court and offended the judge and made the court aware of who I was and I was aware of the situation. No disrespect but when u say u know someone. That means from k=12 she knew who I was and why I was saying I wasn’t gonna be responsible if I was to say something that know one was suppose to know at that point in time. And also, the state patrol officer who will not and I repeat not know, im covering his 6, because he spoke clear, and was very patient, with my trauma, even tho and after remembering and making him aware I had a seizure while driving and he told me that I almost killed 3 kids when the car hit a tree. All the windows was broken except 2. I also told him a haven’t had my seizure mess and I needed to see a Dr. He passed me off to another state patrol to take me to jail. On the way he stopped at a lab before jail to do urine and blood. Now, im not doing the rest of this. Because…. im that, MAN, who no longer thinks of himself as a conspiracy theorist, yes… I told ya. I told YA! STOP predictable words when typing or assuming I was thinking or whatever. Dont use my own terminologies for Android or iPhone or Anything. Thats whats wrong with america. Yall got to fast. Since Marijuana is legal in most of our world and should be all over, smoke at a time and see how much peace all over the world would be. No words should show up, predictable or negative. I want my 3 daughters and Mrs. Kathy E. Moore, to know, that true love does conquer, All. My mom and dad knew that better than anyone, but there timing and themselves, got off. Her husband was my brothers and 1of my best friends. They had a son. She has buried them both. My mother and father only married 3 months, when he was injured. She never got to see the man he could have been. And im aware thats why we can’t get along. My parents married each other 3xs and 1 other time to someone else. Now, .e and Kathy. Shes always came back to my life and we was so excited and exhausted, just give me my monthly 100 total disability please and me and our families want bo5her you except when its time to bury the others. If we can’t get back and be married legally not common law which no one looks at anyways except for tax purposes. Now, clonopin is1 medication I need also. Im aware that % of men after taking conspiracy for 26yrs, side effects are alzheimers which you have to have dementia for 20 yes before its alzheimers. Yes thats ne. Im that dude. Knowing what I know and who im around, I know when someone has seen me or talking about me. That being said why, but who cares! Food for knowledge. And I’ve kept my mouth shut and now, because of life and my trusts and the trust 8 had in people have never been more confused and surprised that im homeless, im a veteran and all this not Ley statements. 7,000$ a month to do the same thing im doing know! Looking for a way to say im sorry and start my life over with Mrs. Moore! I can’t get in touch to find out if I can walk 1 mile to her house. How convent to block someone. Crucket wirless, was saying 1 thing and responding or not responding…….. so, hide my identity and put me in a hotel til you help me get a house. Very pissed off and fighting mad, because its my life and my medical condition is worse. And now, the V.A, has passed me off to alzheimers assc. How convient! Now you figure out, the very easy fix for yall not me! Will my country, help a boy find his girlfriend and help me talk to her mother, marry her daughter. Because her daughter is my stepdaughter. She asked if she could call me daddy after 2 weeks of dating her mom. Being politically correct sometimes sucks! Don’t
you guys are so on course for all to fail if they would just take care of the ill the ones with mental health issues and the homeless. These men and women thought of our country and serve it and in return the most they could ask for is a little respect from our country to help in the time of need, no hand outs care for them since they were injured for YOU !
you guys are so on course for all to fail if they would just take care of the ill the ones with mental health issues and the homeless. These men and women thought of our country and serve it and in return the most they could ask for is a little respect from our country to help in the time of need, no hand outs care for them since they were injured for YOU !
Im a home owner vet on a fixed income and struggling to make ends meet. I have tried 3 times to refinance to a lower rate in order to lower my mortgage payment. It’s a lie that the VA will help.
Help our vets now, stop sending money over seas and take care of our solders who have given so much !!!