Topic > In Unit Haunted by Suicide, veterans try to save one...

All trained professionals who associate with possible suicidal veterans need additional training, so that they are able to handle the situations and notice the signs of suicide. Mazza, Giuliana and Puskar emphasize that the idea of ​​evaluating the safety of each patient during each encounter is very important (4). Trained professionals should never miss an opportunity to prevent suicide. There is also a need for professionals to understand what the soldier has been through while on active duty, but they must also fight the stigma that a soldier asking for help is a sign of weakness. In an article John McCarthy et al. agrees that professionals should be able to assess patients' suicide risk, but this requires a high level of clinical skill and the ability to give soldiers reason to trust (1935). Bossarte, Claassen, and Knox add that both psychological and physical trauma related to combat increase the risk of suicide (460). When soldiers are injured in war, they are often treated on the battlefield with medications so that they can return to war as quickly as possible (McCarl 409). This can lead to veterans becoming addicted to drugs or feeling like they have to suppress feelings and emotions and is easier than dealing with them. The veteran returning home needs to be able to access qualified assistance at all times, but those who care for him must really care and want to prevent something bad from happening to the new veteran. McCarl mentions situations where Randen, a soldier, seeks help numerous times from the VA, but is sent home repeatedly without any help. The continuous search for assistance is a cry for help and signifies the gravity of the situation for that soldier (Mazza, Giuliana e