Blog post

IAVA Statement on Suicide Condolence Letters
Posted by Isabel Black on July 7

On July 5, the White House announced a change in policy regarding sending condolence letters to families of troops who took their own lives while in combat. IAVA released the following statement in response to the policy reversal:

“The families of troops who take their own lives in combat definitely deserve a condolence letter from the President. It’s long past time for our nation to formally recognize the loss of these service members. IAVA welcomes this change in policy as a small, but positive step towards eliminating the stigma of mental health wounds in the military,” said Paul Rieckhoff, Founder and Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). “But the White House still needs to redouble its resolve to address the root of this suicide epidemic. Our nation has a huge, rapidly growing military and veteran suicide problem—and the President must do much more to tackle it head-on. Now is the time to issue a national call to action for more mental health professionals and mobilize resources to immediately address this tragic situation.  What our community needs are substantial resources and a real push that prevents suicide, not just letters after the fact. The best way to honor the legacy of those we have lost is to ensure that no one else’s son or daughter becomes a statistic.”

For more information about the change in White House policy, click here.

IAVA STATEMENTS ON MILITARY & VETERAN SUICIDE

• State of the Union: IAVA Calls on the President to Address Suicide and Unemployment
• In Memoriam: Clay Hunt
• National Guard Suicides Double in 2010
• Congress Passes Broad Defense Bill Supporting Troops, New Veterans
• President Obama Says the Right Things for Vets, Now We Need Results
• IAVA Visits White House to Convey Frustrations to President Obama

MONTHLY ANALYSIS OF ARMY SUICIDES

• May Suicide Numbers and Barriers to Mental Health Treatment
• Army Reports Highest Suicide Numbers in 2011

RECENT TESTIMONIES BEFORE CONGRESS

• IAVA Legislative Priorities for 2011
• Healing the Physical Injuries of War
• Examining the Progress of Suicide Prevention Outreach Efforts at the VA
• VA Mental Health Care

Read IAVA’s recommendations to the White House, Congress and local leaders in the private and public secctors to address the growing suicide problem. Or follow @IAVA on Twitter for new updates about this issue.