LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – The nation loses about 17 veterans to suicide every single day, in line with the U.S. Division of Veterans Affairs — and Mid-Michigan got here collectively Wednesday to do one thing about it.
With Veterans Day across the nook, the neighborhood gathered at an occasion specializing in veterans’ psychological well being.
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The room was stuffed with stars, stripes, and tales—tales of honorable service, but additionally nice sacrifice.
“I was in the United States Air Force for four years and proudly served,” stated Tim Poxson, who now works with the American Legion Dept. of Michigan.
“I misplaced my husband 4 years in the past,” stated Loni Hill, the widow of a late veteran.
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Chair of the Lansing Space Veterans Coalition, Inetta Smith, is aware of of the battle firsthand, from her husband who served in Vietnam.
“Some people are able to walk away from an experience and not have it affect them in the long run and others hold [it] in. They don’t want to talk about it,” stated Smith. “For everybody to be able to talk to each other and share experiences and learn more, that the best thing for our veterans. We’re going to be able to take care of our veterans, help our veterans, and help them help themselves.”
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Smith desires to remind individuals to additionally verify on veteran households.
“It’s not just the soldiers, not just that veteran. It trickles down to everybody in the household,” stated Hill.
Loni Hill’s husband served within the Marines and the Military Nationwide Guard.
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“When my husband passed away, he had 12 medications and was given an additional one,” stated Hill.
Hill says her husband suffered from PTSD and ended up taking his personal life in 2022.
“With PTSD, therapy helps better than any of the drugs. Drugs, I feel, are a band-aid,” stated Hill.
The occasion centered on the connection between medicine and veteran suicide.
“There’s hundreds of different drugs that can cause akathisia, and akathisia can cause violent self harm and suicide,” stated Kristina Kaiser with the MISSD Basis.
All audio system echoed that drugs might help individuals, however needs to be monitored extra rigorously.
“I am not towards pharmaceuticals,” stated Poxson. “I’m against people not knowing what they’re taking and why they’re taking it.”
(U.S. Division of Veterans’ Affairs)
A veteran speaker defined that the VA’s 2024 Nationwide Veteran Suicide Prevention Report reveals the actual significance of continuous to supply help and sources for individuals who have served.
In case you or a beloved one wants psychological well being help, you possibly can name the 988 Suicide and Disaster Lifeline or textual content 838255.
