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Author Archives: John Mason
World Bipolar Day – 2017
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Men are now the downtrodden sex: Feminist (and mother of a son) reluctantly admits women’s fight for equality has gone too far – as two men reveal how they were pushed to the brink of suicide
National Depression Screening Day – Thursday, October 6, 2016
Together, We Can Save a Life
Did you know that depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for people between the ages of 15 and 44? That’s right, Major Depressive Disorder affects over 15 million American adults. With prevalence being as expansive as it is, it is likely that you know at least one person who lives with depression. And if that person isn’t aware that they live with depression or not getting the proper treatment for it, there is something you can do to help them.
You can tell them about National Depression Screening Day (NDSD).
Colleges, workplaces and community organizations across the country have participated in National Depression Screening Day for the past 25 years. This awareness event is focused on providing screenings for depression and other common mental health disorders as well as resources for finding help in their communities.
In addition to depression, individuals can be screened for generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, alcoholism and other substance use disorders. There is also a screening parents can take on behalf of their adolescent children.
Early detection and treatment of mental health conditions can prevent someone from reaching a point of crisis, such as suicide. While suicide may seem like something you may never have to talk to someone about, consider these statistics:
- Each year 42,773 Americans die by suicide.
- 70% of individuals tell someone or give warning signs before taking their own life.
- Suicide rates increased by 24% from 1999 to 2014.
This National Depression Screening Day—held on Thursday, October 6—we are encouraging everyone to take advantage of the free resources available to get insight into your own mental health.
Visit HelpYourselfHelpOthers.org or StopaSuicide.org for more information.
Mental Illness Awareness Week (#MIAW) – October 2 – 8, 2016
Dear NAMI Supporter, The first week in October — this week — is Mental Illness Awareness Week (#MIAW). NAMI joins with participants across the country to fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for equal care and I want you to join us. NAMI is pushing for more funding for scientific research that can lead to earlier and better intervention, treatment, services and support for mental health conditions. We’re leading the way nationwide as an advocate for more funding for the social and scientific advances individuals and families affected by mental illness need now — and Mental Illness Awareness Week gives us a chance to draw attention to this urgent cause.
Your gift in honor of Mental Illness Awareness Week will support NAMI’s year-round efforts to improve lives and bring hope to people and families affected by mental health conditions. This week, we have a chance to seize the national spotlight to demonstrate the prevalence of mental health illness in this country, let people know how they can get help, and demand more leadership and action from decision-makers.
P.S. We need every NAMI supporter to do their part to make Mental Illness Awareness Week a success.
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Loebsack pens suicide prevention bill for veterans – September 22, 2016
U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack introduced a bill Wednesday in the House of Representatives aimed at ensuring veterans have access to inpatient mental health care at Veterans Affairs hospitals.
Loebsack, D-Iowa City, alongside Republican Congressman Steve Stivers of Ohio, proposed the Never Again Act in response to Sgt. Brandon Ketchum’s suicide in July, according to a news release from Loebsack’s office. Ketchum, a Bettendorf veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said in a Facebook post hours before his death that the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System denied him inpatient treatment while he was in crisis and requesting a bed.
“Simply put, under the Never Again Act, if a veteran asks for mental health care from the VA, they will get it,” the release says.
The New Cold War – 60 Minutes segment – September 18, 2016
60 Minutes gets a rare look inside U.S. Strategic Command and discovers the extraordinary measures the military takes to make sure only the president can launch a nuclear attack
Navy ramps up anti-suicide battle with outreach and new review – NavyTimes.com – September 19, 2016
Every week this year, on average, a sailor has taken their own life.
Mid-way through suicide prevention month, the Navy is staring down one of the worst tolls for self-inflicted deaths in years — and officials are attacking the problem from multiple angles, through training and resources while trying to foster a culture that doesn’t stigmatize mental health.
As of Sept. 6, 42 of the 436,793 sailors in the active-duty and reserve had taken their own lives in 2016. These statistics do not count veterans, with a recent study finding that roughly 20 veterans commit suicide every day.
The Navy’s numbers are on track to be as bad or worse than in the past few years, including a ten-year high of 69 in 2014.
The service is launching a wide-ranging study of sailor suicides and urging everyone across the service to monitor their colleagues and use resources like the Military Crisis Line — 1-800-273-8255 — when they’re in trouble.
The missing context behind the widely cited statistic that there are 22 veteran suicides a day – Washington Post article – February 2015
“Every day in the United States, 22 veterans succumb to suicide — losing their personal battle to invisible wounds of war.”
–Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), news release, Jan. 13, 2015
“When you have 8,000 veterans a year committing suicide, then you have a serious problem.”
–Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), news article, Feb. 2, 2015
“Every day, approximately 22 American veterans commit suicide, totaling over 8,000 veteran suicides each year — I repeat, 8,000 veteran suicides each year.”
–Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Senate hearing, Feb. 3, 2015
Both chambers unanimously passed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, sending the bill to the president for his signature. The bill aims to improve mental-health and suicide-prevention services at the Department of Veterans Affairs. It is named after a former Marine sniper who committed suicide in March 2011 after struggling to receive mental-health care at the Houston Veterans Affairs medical center.
The statistic that there are 22 veteran suicides each day — or, more than 8,000 when multiplied by the number of days in a year — is a widely cited figure in reference to veteran suicides. It’s been used by Democratic and Republican lawmakers in both chambers, the VA, veteran groups and media outlets (including, in full disclosure, the author of this fact check).
Suicides among military bomb techs at crisis level – Militarytimes.com – September 18, 2016
Danelle Hackett wanted her Marine husband to focus on the lives he saved disarming IEDs as a military bomb technician during two tours in Iraq.
Maj. Jeff Hackett could only focus on his 16 colleagues who died during the dangerous bomb disposal missions he led from early 2005 through late 2007.
“My husband looked at those guys as his own family, his own sons. Repeatedly losing techs just wore on him and wore him. He blamed himself for every death,” Danelle Hackett said.
In June 2010, after a day of drinking at an American Legion Post in Wyoming near the family’s home, Jeff Hackett downed a couple more swigs of alcohol, said “cheers” and shot and killed himself.