Many people think of veterans as strong people. It isn’t difficult to determine where that stereotype came from. Soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen deal with difficult situations as part of their normal duties. Those difficult situations while serving, as well as some of the things these veterans deal with when they get out of the service, can lead some veterans down a dark path. That path might end with the veteran taking his or her own life. Our readers in Texas should be aware of some of the signs of a crisis point in their beloved veterans.
Some of the signs of crisis can be rage, anger, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, risky behavior, hopelessness, mood swings, sleeplessness, agitation, anxiety and withdrawing from loved ones. All of those signs point toward a person who is nearing the end of his or her rope. Talking about death or taking part in self-destructive behavior are also signs that a person needs help immediately.
For veterans, it is possible to contact the Veterans Crisis Line to seek assistance in these cases. Even people who aren’t veterans can call the line if their beloved veteran is experiencing the warning signs of a crisis. The crisis line has helped in over 39,000 lifesaving rescues since it was started in 2007.
This is only one of the services that is available to veterans. Some veterans might qualify for other services through the VA. Learning about those services, applying for the services that require applications and appealing decisions that you don’t feel are correct can help you to decide how to proceed with your claims.
Source: United States Department of Veterans’ Affairs, “Suicide Prevention” accessed Feb. 13, 2015