Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
'Deeply Alarming': Military Suicides Far Outpace Combat Deaths Since 9/11
NBC News: Since 9/11, Military Suicides Dwarf The Number Of Soldiers Killed In Combat
Since 9/11, four times as many U.S. service members and veterans have died by suicide than have been killed in combat, according to a new report. The research, compiled by the Costs of War Project at Brown University, found an estimated 30,177 active duty personnel and veterans who have served in the military since 9/11 have died by suicide, compared with 7,057 killed in post 9/11 military operations. The figures include all service members, not just those who served in combat during that time. The majority of the deaths are among veterans who account for an estimated 22,261 of the suicides during that period. (Kube, 6/21)
Lawmakers are trying again to pass the "Brandon Act" —
Stars and Stripes: Lawmakers Reintroduce Brandon Act To Offer Troops Confidential Access To Mental Health Care
After a failed attempt last year, lawmakers reintroduced a bill Wednesday that would allow service members to quickly seek mental health care in confidence by using a safe word. The bill, titled the Brandon Act, was named for Brandon Caserta, a 21-year-old sailor who died by suicide June 25, 2018, at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. A command investigation into Caserta’s death determined that belligerent and brash leadership of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 contributed to his decision to end his own life. He felt alone, stuck and afraid of retaliation, his parents said. (Wentling, 6/16)
Military.Com: 'Brandon Act' Named For Sailor Who Died By Suicide Gains New Supporters In Congress
Marine Corps veteran Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and Navy veteran Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., are among the sponsors of the Brandon Act: legislation that would give service members a safe phrase that would trigger an automatic referral to a mental health specialist for evaluation. The bill is named for Navy Aircrew Aviation Electrician's Mate Striker Brandon Caserta, who died three years ago this month by suicide in Norfolk, Virginia. Military.com first reported on the tragedy in 2019. According to Navy records and personal correspondence, Caserta was being bullied by one of his supervisors and was despondent over his circumstances. (Kime, 6/17)
Cronkite News: Peoria Parents Hope Military Mental Health Act Spares Others Their Pain
Patrick Caserta hopes no one has to go through what he and his wife, Teri, went through in 2018 when their son died by suicide while serving in the Navy. That’s why the Peoria parents were in Washington Wednesday for the introduction of the Brandon Act, a bill that would provide service members confidential access to mental health care without fear of rebuke or retaliation. This is the second try for the bill, named in memory of Brandon Caserta, that was introduced last year but failed to get a hearing. (Newman, 6/21)
In related news about military suicides —
USA Today: Military Suicides Stand Out In Alaska, Where 6 Have Died In 5 Months
Six soldiers stationed in Alaska have died by apparent suicide in the first five months of the year, an alarming number of deaths after the Army poured more than $200 million into the state to combat the mental health crisis it identified in 2019, according to Army figures released to USA TODAY. The 2021 suicide toll among the roughly 11,500 soldiers stationed there already has nearly matched last year when seven soldiers died by suicide while stationed with U.S. Army Alaska, whose principal posts are Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. (Vanden Brook, 6/11)
Military.Com: Frequent Military Funeral Duty May Increase Soldiers' Risk Of Suicide, Officer Warns
Army Capt. Kristen Bell stunned XVIII Airborne Corps leaders at a forum on preventing suicides in the ranks with her warning that soldiers assigned frequently to military funeral details are at risk of taking their own lives. "Capt. Bell presented eye-opening statistics regarding the volume of soldier suicides following duty on military funeral details. Everyone in the room was surprised," said Col. Joe Buccino, spokesman for the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. (Sisk, 5/30)
Augusta Chronicle: Army Veteran Continues 1,800-Mile Walk For Veteran Suicide Awareness
Capt. Greg Washington had left the military and was at a low point in his life in 2011. He was contemplating suicide. A call asking to go window shopping by his young cousin saved his life and started his healing journey. “Everyone that I meet, I challenge them, think about that one friend, family member, loved one, battle buddy that you haven’t talked to in a while and call and check on them. You never know, you might be that angel that my cousin was to me,” he said. Washington, 39, stopped by Augusta this week as he continues his 1,800-mile "A Walk To Honor" through 11 states to raise awareness for veteran suicide. He began his journey about 45 days ago in April from Mound Bayou, Mississippi, and will be arriving at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point for Sept. 11. (Papp, 6/18)
The New York Times: Air Force Tries Virtual Reality To Stem Suicide And Sexual Assault
The three airmen sat quietly adjusting their headsets, murmuring to their colleague, who was in distinct trouble. “Everyone goes through rough patches sometimes,” each said, a few moments apart, to the same despondent and mildly intoxicated man, whose wife recently left him and who seemed immersed in suicidal thoughts. The airman on the other end of the headsets was virtual, but the conversation was all encompassing, a 30-minute, occasionally harrowing journey among three actual airmen and a virtual actor, whom they each tried to coax into getting help. (Steinhauer, 5/29)
In news about mental health apps —
KHN: In A Murky Sea Of Mental Health Apps, Consumers Left Adrift
In the eyes of the tech industry, mental health treatment is an area ripe for disruption. In any given year, 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience a form of mental illness, according to federal estimates. And research indicates only about half of them receive treatment in a system that is understaffed and ill distributed to meet demand. For tech startups looking to cash in on unmet need, that translates into more than 50 million potential customers. (Gold, 6/22)
Philadelphia Inquirer: The Pandemic Increased Mental Health Needs. Some Addressed It By Building New Apps
The mental health toll of COVID-19 has been difficult for many, and traditional resources such as talk therapy have been overloaded in recent months. As a result, developers and grassroots mental health organizations are trying to address the increase in need through behavioral health smartphone apps, which have been gaining popularity since even before the pandemic. Headspace and Calm are popular meditation apps that have millions of users all over the world, and teletherapy apps such as Talkspace and BetterHelp have helped users connect with therapists. Last year, the American Psychological Association estimated that there are more than 10,000 mental health apps available to those in need. (Ao, 6/21)
