Every three days, an Oregon veteran commits suicide. The problem has reached critical mass, prompting the Department of Veteran鈥檚 Affairs and Governor Kate Brown to make veteran suicide prevention a top priority.
The V.A. recognizes the problem. Veterans are at high risk for suicide for unique reasons which include post-traumatic stress disorder, modern combat situations and transitioning from military to civilian life. Vets also face barriers in asking for help due to a 鈥渟oldier culture鈥� that stigmatizes weakness. Kelly Fitzpatrick is the newly appointed director of the Oregon V.A. and a retired Army Major.
鈥淲e鈥檙e very other focused as military service members and veterans and it鈥檚 because we鈥檙e proud, we鈥檙e strong, we鈥檙e there for our battle buddies,鈥� Fitzgerald says. 鈥淏ut sometimes we just can鈥檛 take care of ourselves because we don鈥檛鈥� want to admit to any kind of a weakness.鈥�
Fitzgerald says reaching out for help is an act of courage and strength. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 800-273-TALK. Veterans press 1 to speak to a fellow vet.
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In Oregon, veterans commit suicide at a rate that is significantly higher than the state鈥檚 general suicide rate. Every three days, an Oregon veteran takes his or her own life.
Kelly Fitzpatrick is Governor Kate Brown鈥檚 recent nominee for the position of director of the Oregon Department of Veteran鈥檚 Affairs. She is a retired Army Major. I asked Fitzpatrick, a veteran herself, if she had any sense of *why so many Oregon veterans are choosing to take their own lives?
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