Archives
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
Categories
- Congress
- Defense
- General News
- Health
- Health IT
- Homeland Security
- IBM suspension
- Industry
- Info Security
- Intelligence
- International
- IT management
- Law
- OMB
- Oversight
- Policy
- Politics
- Privacy
- Procurement
- Program Management
- Project management
- Risk management
- Security
- Spending
- State and Local
- Technology
- Telecommunications
- Tip Thursday
- Virtual World
- Web
- White House
- Wireless
- Workplace
What's happening in the federal IT community
By Friday, April 25, 2008 | 9:13 AM
As reported in Government Executive, Congress is pretty angry with the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments over their "sending the wrong message" - a polite term for misleading it over the number of veterans attempting or successfully committing suicide. The VA claimed last year that only 790 veterans it saw in medical facilities attempted suicide, whereas the real number was over a 1,000 per month.
VA Deputy Secretary Gordon Mansfield, however, didn't think there was any attempt to mislead Congress.
In addition, Mansfield and Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness David S. C. Chu also tried to place the best spin on the increasing number of suicide attempts. Mansfield said that young people between the ages of 15 and 24 try suicide more than others, and since Defense recruits in that age group, an increasing number of suicides should not be seen as an epidemic.
This is an interesting view given that it appears that veterans between 20 and 24 years old, and the ones most likely to have been in Iraq or Afghanistan, are committing suicide at twice to four times the rate of civilians of the same age.
Chu put an even more positive spin on the situation. “I think the good news is that on an age-adjusted basis, department suicide rates as a whole tend to be a bit below the national norm. And even with the Army’s increase it puts at approximately at the national level.”
So active duty suicide rates are increasing, especially in the Army, but when you average it out, it is about the same as the general population.
Nothing to worry about here, mate, just move along.
If this is what Defense and VA think is good news, I would hate to see what they think is bad news.
Comments
I think that veterans should be treated with dignity and respect, not told that they are mentally disabled with post raumatic stress and unfit for employment. With an $800.00 a month disability check and no future after serving our country, stabbed in the back by some quack doctors for seeking counseling, why wouldn't some feel dispair? I say give them good jobs, support and compassion, not therapy, drugs, confinement, and a disabily check. Also, the AMA should put the therapy field as a form of alternative medicine, speculative at best, Orwellian at its worst.
Mary Rose Deak | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 | 10:25 AMThis sounds pretty uncaring based on 'showing' statistical information to make it seem normal. However, military personnel should not have the same average due to the fact that they are 'supposed' to have immediate access to counselors for mental health issues and they are suppose to have an evaluation when they come back from active duty so that they do not fall thru the net. The private sector does not get this same attention to detail...which poses the question "Are Our Veterans Getting the Care They Should Be Getting?" We have put alot of money into mental health funding...where is it going?
Mary G | Tuesday, April 29, 2008 | 11:41 AMWhat do you WANT them to do about it? Being more forthright with the data will not prevent anyone from offing themselves. Hightened awareness might result in tightening the assessment process but you can't treat someone who doesn't present themselves for treatment. And you don't need to put a 72 hour hold on everyone who talks about suicide. So, what would YOU recommend? Or are you just a basher?
Vet | Tuesday, April 29, 2008 | 10:49 AMI can't believe that this government continues to manipulate the American people and cover up every bit of bad news that they can. What happened to all the touting of "transparency in government"? I continue to be ashamed of my government. Even though I'm ashamed that I feel that way!
Francine | Tuesday, April 29, 2008 | 9:27 AMMore BS by politicians as usual. They are only interested in their pay checks and helping family members finding high paying jobs.
Veteran | Tuesday, April 29, 2008 | 5:46 AMNow that we see this issue in more truthful terms, what is the DoD and the VA going to DO about it?
David | Monday, April 28, 2008 | 7:26 AM