[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14521]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          ACKNOWLEDGING AND PREVENTING SUICIDE AMONG VETERANS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 26, 2013

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as we reflect on the 
lives of the nearly 30,000 Americans who die each year by their own 
hands, it is important that we recognize the emotional and mental 
trauma that our nation's veterans specifically face while serving 
abroad and at home. As we recognize September as Suicide Prevention 
Month, I believe that there are important steps that we can all take to 
acknowledge and prevent suicides among our veteran population.
  Each day, an estimated 22 veterans commit suicide, or one veteran 
every 65 minutes. Veterans commit suicide at more than double the rate 
of the civilian population, which has totaled to more than 49,000 
deaths between 2005 and 2011. Veterans make up nearly one in every five 
suicides nationwide. This is simply unacceptable.
  Our veterans face unspeakable challenges in the defense of our 
nation. Every day, they must endure mental and emotional trauma while 
spending months, if not years, in foreign countries away from their 
family and friends. The unique circumstances of their work often have a 
lasting impact on their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
  As our veterans return home, it is critical that we provide them the 
sufficient resources and support needed to minimize or reduce any 
trauma. The Department of Veterans' Affairs, working in conjunction 
with Members of Congress, has the power to provide this support. Now 
more than ever, as the number of suicides continues to grow, it is 
absolutely imperative that we act swiftly and decisively to end this 
before any more lives are needlessly lost.
  Mr. Speaker, we owe it to our veterans to address this tragedy now. 
It is clear that as long as the number of suicides among our veterans 
continues to increase, there is plenty more that we can do as lawmakers 
and leaders to minimize the number of tragedies.

                          ____________________