Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that
the President should overturn the policy that prohibits
sending a presidential letter of condolence to the family
of a member of the Armed Forces who has died by
suicide.
Whereas suicide is a growing problem in the Armed Forces
that cannot be ignored;
Whereas a record number of military suicides was reported
in 2008, with 128 active-duty Army and 48 Marine
deaths reported;
Whereas the number of military suicides during 2009 is expected
to equal or exceed the 2008 total;
Whereas long-standing policy prevents President Obama from
sending a condolence letter to the family of a member of
the Armed Forces who has died by suicide;
Whereas members of the Armed Forces sacrifice their physical,
mental, and emotional well-being for the freedoms
Americans hold dear;
Whereas the military family also bears the cost of defending
the United States, with military spouses and children
sacrificing much and standing ready to provide unending
support to their spouse or parent who is a member of the
Armed Forces;
Whereas the loss of a member of the Armed Forces to suicide
directly and tragically affects military spouses and children,
as well as the United States;
Whereas much more needs to be done to protect and address
the mental health needs of members of the Armed
Forces, just as they serve to protect and defend the freedoms
of the United States; [...]
It is difficult to imagine a more stressful situation than serving in a zone where an enemy is seldom directly confrontational for regular combat, but with every instant off an operating base open to sniper or IED death or carnage. Surely the military should develop an attitude of recognition and respect for those near or beyond the breaking point in such situations. The notion that only the weak cannot cope is counterproductive, especially where extended deployments and redeployments beyond what an enlisting individual and family may have contemplated at the point of enlistment are continuing, from a GOP to a Dem administration.
Having people with you that can be depended upon is a key morale factor. With people not helped and with a Gestalt of suck it up and perform, the well being of entire combat units is compromised when outdated views of mental health and stress relief needs are entrenched.
There has to be a change of the mind-set in command minds, as a start. However, I am far from suggesting the problem is an easy one to solve. The PTSD situation, including suicide and distancing from family and local frindships that happen when some in the military return stateside, as well as spousal violence in some situations, is yet a separate thing needing attention and civilized help, as much as the problem of suicide during deployment needs it.