Kevlar for the Mind: Send condolence letters to suicide victims’ families - Off Duty, Military Health and Fitness - Air Force Times

Kevlar for the Mind: Send condolence letters to suicide victims’ families

The White House sends letters of condolence to the families of service members who die in combat and from non-combat incidents and illnesses in the war zones. But under a policy dating back at least to the Clinton administration, such letters are not sent to families of troops who commit suicide in the war zones.

At the request of families who have lost loved ones to suicide, the Obama administration last year decided to review this policy. To date, no formal decision has been made.

Advocates of abandoning the current policy feel that the next of kin of all deceased troops, no matter how they die, deserve the same personal sympathies from their commander in chief.

They believe not sending condolence letters minimizes the sacrifices made by those who have served and died. Moreover, they believe a personal letter from the president would help alleviate the emotional suffering that families endure after such a tragic loss.

The review comes at a time when the military is struggling with increasing suicides in its ranks. In January, the Defense Department released its 2009 suicide data for the Army. It was the worst year on record, with 160 reported suicides, 20 more than in 2008.

As a former military psychologist, I have seen firsthand the heartache that suicide brings to families. I have also seen the tremendous effect it has on the deceased service member’s friends and unit. Emotions are strong and often mixed. Confusion turns to shock; sadness can give way to anger.

Service members who die from suicide in the combat zones deserve the same respect and acknowledgement as their fellow service members who die in battle and other events.

Any person who joins the military and serves honorably deserves the respect of his country and those with whom he has served in combat. How he dies is irrelevant.

I hope that our current administration will repeal this punitive and misinformed policy. Although suicide is a poor choice for handling problems, I don’t believe that we have the right to make judgments against others without knowing the full story.

Would it make a difference that the person was on his fourth combat tour, lost his father to cancer and had his wife leave him for another man while deployed? Far be it from me to think less of a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine in that situation who decided to take his own life.

I realize my view is not shared by all, so I welcome your thoughts on this issue.