Brian Cain’s Post

Being that it’s suicide prevention month, the VA introduced their new “Reach Out” campaign. The point of Reach Out is to provide resources to veterans looking for help with problems before they escalate to suicide. If you go to the website, it has a list of different problems or emotions you can click on, then it takes you to resources that provide help for those issues. Overall, I think it’s a great idea, but veterans need to help push the message to veterans. A veteran on the precipice of suicide might not listen to family members or friends, but they might listen to another veteran that’s been there. We need to hear it from each other, IT’S OK TO GET HELP! Veterans are trained to be resilient, which can make it hard to reach out for help. If you know a Veteran who’s struggling, encourage them to explore resources today: www.VA.gov/REACH. #SPM24 #VetsReachOut

This article illuminates the trauma of combat when soldiers have no time to grieve for their fallen friends. Mental health for our military families and combat vets is a priority. #MemorialDay

Nearly 34 years of war and trauma. Weapons training and access. Use of firearms. From USA Today newspaper: U.S. soldiers were almost nine times more likely to die by suicide than by enemy fire, according to a Pentagon study for the five-year period ending in 2019. The study, published in May by the Defense Health Agency, found that suicide was the leading cause of death among active-duty soldiers from 2014 to 2019. There were 883 suicide deaths during that time period. Accidents were the No. 2 cause with 814 deaths. There were 96 combat deaths.

Having access to data like this is a important for organizations like Objective Zero Foundation. Knowing that those serving in the infantry, ordnance disposal and diving, combat engineering, medical care and technical specialists “not elsewhere classified” roles helps us provide better support. We already see a higher amount of usage from service members and veterans in combat arms specialties- which clearly tracks with the data and higher rates of suicide risk.

Do you have 988 press 1 in your phone? Here is a new #VA video about #SuicidePrevention for #Veterans to watch and share.

Partial Explanation why Marines report Highest Suicide Rate since 2011, Navy since 2019. Dave Philipps, Pulitzer prize-winning and NYT reporter, has filed another report on continuing investigations into BLAST injury. He does it through a look at the US strategy of using firepower to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria. #blastinjury #braininjury #Brainwounding #concussion #HBOT #hyperbaric #HyperbaricOxygentherapy #Lestweforget #memorialday #mentalhealth #oxygen #posttraumaticstressdisorder #PTSD #suicideepidemic #SuicidePreventionFunding #TBI #traumaticbraininjury #VA #VeteranSuicide #Veterans #VeteransAffairs

📢 New Blog Post: The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide – Key Insights and Looking Ahead At Donaldson Law, we’re closely following the important work of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Our latest blog post, authored by Courtney Jenkins, dives into the findings of this critical inquiry, which has been investigating the mental health and well-being of Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their families for nearly three years. The interim report highlighted key issues such as the significant role of defence families, cultural and systemic challenges within the ADF, and the complexities surrounding veterans’ transition to civilian life. With the final report now released on 9 September 2024, we’re committed to keeping you informed about the outcomes and what they mean for the ADF community. Read the full article on our website to learn more about the Commission’s recommendations and how they could shape the future for veterans and their families. 👉 Full Article: https://lnkd.in/g9sjpq-W #DonaldsonLaw #RoyalCommission #VeteranSupport #ADF #MentalHealth #TraumaInformedCare #VeteranCommunity

As the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide closes, we’re reminded that healing is still ongoing for many veteran families. Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) offers a pathway to hope and resilience, even in the face of trauma. Through PTG, families find strength in appreciating the little things, building stronger bonds, and discovering newfound resilience. It’s a journey of overcoming adversity, with scars that tell stories of courage, unity, and purpose. Read more about how veteran families are healing and moving forward: https://lnkd.in/g9yCVJAC

At Combat Stress, our specialist services take into account the life experiences of the veterans we treat, including the different ways in which a veteran might be affected by trauma and continually work to prevent retraumatisation. Click here to read about how we implement trauma-informed practice: https://ow.ly/Xwfp50TqUO3 #trauma #traumainformed #veteransupport #veterancommunity

It's good to see the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide (RCDVS) is nearing its conclusion. This article talks about the 900 private interviews that were held and how additional commissioners were required to deal with the workload. I'm fully supportive of the goal to help veterans, but I can't help wondering if the millions of dollars spent on the RCDVS is value for money. The ADF has been charging through cultural reform programs over recent years, many of which address the concerns raised at the RCDVS. While I'm sure the RCDVS will come up with a pile of recommendations, surely we could have done the same with a much simpler committee approach, or, dare I say it, by using extant government processes. Those millions could then have been spent on the Veterans (or others in need). We really should be asking our politicians (and bureaucrats) to stop hiding behind Royal Commissions and start leading by drawing on their own values - that's leadership. The UK long ago washed its hands of Royal Commissions - perhaps it's time Australia did the same. You can hear more about the history of Royal Commissions, what they are, and whether they are value for money by heading over to 'Spartan Spirit Leadership', episode 30. Available on all the usual podcast host sites, or here: https://lnkd.in/giNrfbit