Healing Veterans, Stopping Veterans Suicide
Summary:
The VA budget for suicide prevention has increased by $3.3 billion since
2015 (as per TreatNow.org reported data). The average cost of $89K per
veteran for suicide prevention has not resulted in decreased suicides; in fact
the suicide rate continues to increase. What measures has this increased
VA expenditure funded ? A VA crisis line, a “self check” quiz, a safety plan
for making firearms inaccessible, shortening the crisis number to 988, PSA’s,
community based coalitions and all 50 states have a “Governor’s challenge”
to prevent suicide in veterans. Why aren’t all these measures helping ?
Funding is going to administrative efforts; all of these measures are positive
but none of these actions help injured veterans to heal the injuries that lead
to suicide. TBI / blast injury is the signature injury of post- 911 conflict,
and yet there is not a treatment protocol. TBI / blast injury is a true injury,
a brain wound that needs to be healed. Brain injury creates biological
sadness and emotional instability.
When a brain injury does not heal, a
neurodegenerative process begins which results in a clinical worsening of
symptoms. Worsening of a brain injury condition causes veterans to feel
more compromised, disabled, hopeless and helpless. Eventually they are
diagnosed with psychiatric conditions. If they call 988, they are forever
labeled in the VA system based on that moment of crisis. Being categorized
as having “PTSD” stigmatizes them. But there is HOPE FOR HEALING.
Brain injury heals when we support the ability of the brain, the body to
heal itself. Healing requires enhanced oxygen (Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
HBOT), nutrient optimization and detoxification (including avoidance of
alcohol, tobacco and drugs). Veterans need to be healed from ALL their
injuries. An explosion that damages limbs also creates enough blast to cause
brain injury. Brain health is mental health and brain healing is supported
by HBOT. We cannot tolerate this ongoing tragedy of veteran suicide. We
have veterans to save ! Hyperbaric facilities are listed on TreatNow.org.
Carol L. Henricks, M.D. Neurologist
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