Norma Torres: “Our Armed Forces sacrifice everything for us: their bodies, their minds and sometimes, their lives. To those who return…”

“Our Armed Forces sacrifice everything for us: their bodies, their minds and sometimes, their lives. To those who return, they far too often suffer in silence from the mental and physical wounds they endure in battle. Many times, that isolation leads to tragic outcomes. As we commemorate Suicide Prevention Month, it is important that we focus on solving the challenges that lead many of our veterans to make the choice to take their own lives. The numbers are staggering: 7400 veterans took their own lives in 2014, roughly 20 individuals a day. The suicide rate among veterans has surged 35 percent since the beginning of the War on Terror, and 85 percent among our women veterans. A veteran is 21 percent more likely to commit suicide than a civilian. Mr. Speaker, we know the effects of PTSD on our servicemen and women; how almost one-fifth of veterans suffer from PTSD and how the illness is linked to increased suicidal behavior. What is most troubling is that almost half of the veterans with PTSD do not seek treatment from the VA. It is no surprise that 70 percent of veterans who commit suicide are not regular users of VA services. It is our obligation to ensure that we engage our veterans and let them know there is help available. It is also incumbent on us to ensure this care is responsive to their individual needs.…”