VA to hire suicide prevention counselors for 153 medical centers

Told that he would be put on a waiting list after telling an intake counselor he was suicidal at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Jonathan Schulze wrapped a household extension cord around his neck, tied it to a beam in the basement, and hanged himself 4 days later.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced plans to hire suicide prevention counselors at each of its 153 medical centers across the country, officials announced Thursday.

“Many veterans have paid a high price for their service to our nation and have earned world-class mental health care,” said Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson. “Every suicide is a tragedy that sends ripples of pain throughout families and communities. VA health care professionals are committed to provide timely, compassionate intervention, which might help prevent this needless suffering.”

The announcement comes several months after the death of Marine Pvt. Jonathan Schulze, a combat veteran who killed himself after his parents say he sought help at the local VA medical center but was put on a waiting list.

In the wake of that January incident, Nicholson told the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee on Feb. 13 that no veteran with service-connected mental health issues would be denied psychiatric care.

Read the rest at Army Times

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