Veterans of the war in Afghanistan need more mental health help

In the year August 30 is the anniversary of the accident. America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. For the estimated 3 million veterans who have served in the global war on terror, discussing the subject still stirs internal anger. It’s hard to reconcile the accomplishments of the past year with the noble missions you want to serve.

Freeing Afghanistan from the terror network and giving Afghans a chance to shape their national destiny free from the oppressive Taliban regime were achievements lost in a few chaotic days. Adding insult to injury, we have lost 13 brave service members and abandoned our Afghan partners, most of whom are interpreters, who have fought alongside us for two decades, with an estimated 76,000 to 160,000 still in the country.

All of these factors undoubtedly contributed to the results of the recent Mission Roll call Poll73 percent of veterans say withdrawal has a negative impact on their view of America’s legacy in the war on terror.

Now, it’s impossible to quantify the effect this has on veteran suicide rates. But based on my experiences intervening to help friends who are suicidal, it can be easy to bet on the negatives, especially when considering the broader context. In the year Since 2001, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ budget has grown by $253 billion, with a special focus on addressing the suicide epidemic. However, according to the VA’s own data, 6,205 veterans still die each year, and frankly, that number may be an underestimate given data collection issues.

We cannot ask them back. But evidence suggests that relationship struggles, unemployment, substance abuse, high financial stress, lack of peer support and mental health play a big role. What is abundantly clear is that the VA’s limited approach to looking at suicide through the lens of mental health—primarily talk therapy and problematic medication—hasn’t worked. Data and common sense confirm this. Without changing this approach, the problem will continue.

For those who have not served in the military, it can be difficult to understand the magnitude of this problem. Aside from our sacred duty to support our service members and veterans, why does it matter to them?

The short answer: Veterans are more inclined to serve and lead their local communities because they have access to the education and job training that makes them great entrepreneurs or workers, and because they know they can work together because they can navigate the partisan political divides that plague this great country. People who disagree towards a common goal.

But we are losing them at an alarming rate, and America cannot afford to continue this tragedy.

Afghanistan’s exodus reminds us of the moral pain suffered by the conflict’s combatants, and our failure as a nation to keep veterans across the country from losing their lives to war. We need to take this opportunity to re-examine how we deal with this issue. We have an obligation to do more. To more actively engage and fund community organizations and leverage their ability to deliver and coordinate care for the 50% of veterans who do not use the VA. To innovate with prevention solutions such as service dogs, mentoring programs, and other holistic approaches.

Veterans need communities that care about their unique struggles and are motivated to catch them before they reach crisis point, restoring purpose and encouraging them to use the skills and benefits of their military service. The status quo has failed, and communities across the country cannot afford it.

Cole Lyle is the executive director of Mission Roll Call, a former policy advisor to the US Senate and US Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and a combat veteran of the US Marine Corps. He wrote this column for the Dallas Morning News.

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