Rockne's Roundtable

I am a psychotherapist since 1987 and was a pastoral minister for ten years before that. I have always had at least a couple of war veterans on my caseload for years and do today. It is very unfortunate that good behavioral health treatment carries such a stigma in the Midwest. I have known many veterans that I wish would get into psychotherapy. If we were on either coast, it is considered a status symbol. People there spend Thursday night happy hour discussing their analysts with pride at their courage to go somewhere to take a good, long , hard look at themselves.

IMO, it is not hard to see why the suicide rate is so high. The suicide risk for a veteran is as high as the rate for elderly, single males and young gay teens through early twenties. It is also very high for alcohol and drug abusers, again which sees high proportions of our male and female vets among its numbers.

There are many reasons that this is going on today even more than after Nam. I watched the D.C. fireworks on July 4th and the tribute to our veterans. It was heart-breaking and brought tears to my eyes to see their obvious unhappiness, the hollowness behind their eyes, the pain carried there (I have seen a lot of it in my office.), all the while attempting to show pride and a sense of dignity.

When I see service women and men, I thank them. When flying around the country and I know that they are on their way to the Middle East, I tell them that they are in my prayers and wish them Godspeed. At ND games, I sing America the Beautiful with the best of them, loud and clear. I cheer with the flyover. During the armed forces games when vets are asked to stand, I applaud and thank any of them that are sitting close to me.

I am a professional and a person that values spirituality. I am a very staunch Democrat. I am insulted at the mere thought that Democrats do not support our troops or do not respect them. I respect them so much that I want them home. And alas it takes a Democrat in office to make that happen. ND men and women should be highly educated, and I expect more ability for critical thought and intelligent discourse that refuses to make war a black/white or a good/bad issue. Yes, there are many Democrats who may question the wisdom of a particular war, the purported reasons to fight it, or the way it is being conducted. (There are many Republicans who have secretly done the same.). To question their patriotism and more importantly, their loyalty to our country and our troops, is a tremendous insult. It needs to stop.

If intelligent, respectful discussion cannot happen on an ND board, then there is little hope it can be had anywhere.

I take solace in the thought that we can be united for the Fightin' Irish vs, Michigan, USC, etc.

of course, we've all heard a lot on this. i may be wrong, but i thought i read where only 38% of these suicides had served overseas. that opens a whole "nother can of worms.

Calling the wife and family is not fun. Once is too much. I've tried to be there. It's really really tough. Hugging a guy as he falls apart makes you feel things you cannot describe. Finding him on the ship lifeless will never leave you. Losing shipmates from the USS Cole makes you really not care for "those" that fight so cowardly. It is a sad fact. All I can say is be genuine when you say thankyou. Visit a VA hospital. KISS. I have to stop writing....... Sorry if I went off.

Partisan much ??

" I respect them so much that I want them home. And alas it takes a Democrat in office to make that happen."

Glad I did not need a shrink.

Might have committed suicide if assigned to you.

Although kidding, and was too stark a gallows humor and "got ya"

to pass up, you might seriously consider referring military/vets to someone else.