US vets' attorney asks judge to help stem suicides

Source: Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO, April 30 (Reuters) - Saying 18 U.S. veterans commit suicide every day, a lawyer representing veterans' groups asked a federal judge on Wednesday to order the government to provide better mental health care.

"The system, your honor, has crashed, it has been overwhelmed," Arturo Gonzalez told Judge Samuel Conti. "More of these veterans are dying in the United States than out in combat. That is wrong."

Gonzalez cited studies that found veterans committed suicide between three and 7.5 times more often than the national average. That has meant 1,467 deaths between October last year and March 31 for veterans whose medical claims were under appeal.

"Without your help, it's going to get a lot worse," the attorney said, saying some veterans waited years to have the claims reviews processed. "There is only one person on Earth who can help these veterans."

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N30525645.htm

damn. :mad: