While my goal is to focus on a variety of issues that veterans and military families face, I can’t help but feel led to carry the torch for wounded warriors. Being married to a wounded veteran has given me insight into a world that I didn’t really know existed. I’ll try not to harp on the issue too much on this blog as it’s meant to be all-inclusive, however, understanding the plight of the wounded warrior (those suffering with both visible and invisible wounds) is important and it can’t be ignored.
In 2012, Veteran Affairs (VA) released a report with the staggering number of veterans who commit suicide each day: 22. You can see their full report here. Each day, twenty-two of America’s finest and bravest end their lives because they don’t know how to deal with their pain any longer. Twenty-two husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, moms, dads, sons, daughters, fiancés, friends, roommates, and battle buddies end their lives every single day. Twenty-two.
It’s hard to help a person who says that they don’t want help, but if you know a veteran who you believe is in crisis, they may need your help whether they want it or not. VA offers a number of resources for friends and families of vets. Don’t let your loved one become one of the twenty-two. Visit the VA website for more information here or call the Veteran Crisis Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1. 
You don’t have to let your veteran suffer alone. You may not understand the things they’ve seen, the feelings they have, the hope they’ve lost, or the depression that consumes them but you can be there for them when they need you the most. If your veteran is experiencing chronic pain, depression, anxiety, insomnia, or anger they may need help beyond what you can offer them. Be brave enough to reach out for help on their behalf. Your veteran’s life may depend upon it.
Young Living Essential Oils has been working on the use of essential oils for soldiers, specifically PTSD. I would encourage you to look more in to that for a natural way to aid in healing.
Heather,
Your post brings up an important subject. I think we also need to look into the roots of problem if we want to be supportive of our “veteran” loved ones.
I think that one of the key reasons suicide is so common is that our Judeo/Christian values don’t permit us to “live with” the things that our Soldiers and Marines are asked to do. My son only will discuss his combat experiences with other combat vets, and sometimes they are hard to find; I think that is one of the reasons that he stays in the Army. As spouses or parents we can never pretend that we have the answer because we were not “there”.
I think that what you’re doing is commendable, you want to give comfort to our wounded vets and I think that in many cases comfort is all we can offer.
Keep up the fight.
-Andy
Such a sad statistic I wish I couldn’t personally relate to. Thank you for your article and bringing attention to this.
I couldn’t agree more. Our Vets deserve so much more from us. Please accept my condolences on any way this tragedy personally relates to you.