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| HELPING- HANDS | ||
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On average, 18 disabled Veterans commit suicide every day. That adds up to about 6,000 each year. The first question that screams at us is, why? Easier asked than answered. The second question is, what can we do about it? More on that later. Of course, every case is an individual tragedy, but there are some common threads that emphasize a non-physical cause. Victories are won every day over physical disabilities. Not surprisingly, these mission-oriented warriors display a determination to succeed in their recovery no matter what the odds. Wrapped in the protective cocoon of excellent nursing and the camaraderie of their peers, most recover exceptionally well. It is after that rehabilitation process, when separated from their comrades and fellow crusaders, that the reality of life now comes into focus. That reality starts with their separation from the service. Until that moment they live in a bubble, where everything possible is done for their comfort and rehabilitation. The family is included in this warmth of caring. Various charities compete to ensure that only the best is good enough for these heroes who have paid such a price for our security. Celebrities also issue appeals for donations, but there comes a time when that curtain is drawn shut. The follow-through is difficult, to say the least. 'Separation' from military service means, and is, exactly that: no longer does that shield, that comfort zone, support and protect them. Now their reality is life in the raw. They are brought into our world, our reality, but with this important difference - a disability. Some of those disabilities are more noticeable than others - more obvious perhaps because of a missing body part. Nonetheless, other disabilities are less obvious, and perhaps even more deeply-rooted. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) usually accompanies obvious physical injuries but can also afflict those with no physical injuries. And therein lies the problem, when prospective employment is being considered. Liability is a prime concern in considering suitability for employment. In many, if not most, businesses, suitability for employment is handled by professional experts, usually in human services departments. This is usually both the beginning and the end for most disabled |
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military service veterans. The risk consequence is simply too high, and in the current employment market, to competitive. After years of looking and applying for work to no avail, that indomitable warrior gradually readjusts his or her perceived self-worth to a realization previously undiscovered: self-doubt. That lack of self-confidence becomes |
increasingly pervasive and onerous, bringing too many to the breaking point, from which - for approximately eighteen Veterans every single day - there is no return. Let’s go back to that second question, remember? - what can we do about it? Allow me to introduce OPERATION HAND-UP. (continued on page 2) |
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