Kevlar for the Mind: Make condolence letters for suicide victims retroactive - Military Health, military health and wellness, military physical fitness - Military Times

Kevlar for the Mind: Make condolence letters for suicide victims retroactive

In my Feb. 15, 2010, column, I talked about the policy of the president and defense secretary to not send condolence letters to the families of troops who commit suicide in the combat zones.

I said I felt the policy was based on misinformation, bias and an outdated view of mental illness and the phenomenon of suicide.

Shortly after the column came out, I was bombarded with calls and emails supporting a reversal of this misguided and insensitive practice. I am happy to report that, in early July, the White House decided to lift the ban on sending condolence letters to family members who lost a loved one to suicide in the war zones.

Since 2009, the White House has reviewed the long-standing policy, which was prompted by numerous military families and advocates affected by the consequences of suicide.

After a bipartisan push from Congress, President Obama agreed that the policy was counterproductive to reducing the stigma associated with mental health treatment in the military.

“I am deeply grateful for the service of all our men and women in uniform, and grieve for the loss of those who suffer from the wounds of war — seen and unseen. ... I have decided to reverse a long-standing policy of not sending condolence letters to the families of service members who commit suicide while deployed to a combat zone.

“They didn’t die because they were weak. And the fact that they didn’t get the help they needed must change.”

This was a timely and righteous move that honors the men and women who lost their battle with mental illness; it duly recognizes the loss and pain of all the families affected.

There is one catch: The change applies only to future suicides, not retroactively. As such, many families will go unacknowledged and many brave and deserving service members will go unrecognized.

This is disheartening considering that these men and women voluntarily agreed to serve our country.

Although repealing this draconian policy is a huge victory for service members past and present, as well as their loved ones, the loose end of respecting those who have fallen from suicide since the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan remains.

As I noted in my column last year, you can make a difference. Let those in power know how you feel and let’s stand together to tie up this loose end. It’s quite possible that your previous calls and letters have already made a difference.

To send a message to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, you can contact: Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, 1400 Defense, Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1400.