TED Talks Daily Actionable solutions to support the mental health of US veterans | Charles P. Smith
May 22, 2020
Charles P. Smith, a passionate veterans advocate, shares crucial insights into the mental health crisis affecting U.S. service members. He highlights alarming suicide rates and the gaps in military mental health evaluations. Smith proposes a data-driven plan to enhance support for veterans, emphasizing timely interventions and better coordination between military and veterans' services. His call for a comprehensive support system aims to foster a more proactive approach in addressing these urgent mental health challenges.
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A Lieutenant's Suicide
- Charles Smith received news of his lieutenant's suicide on a seemingly perfect spring day.
- This tragic event spurred him to investigate the mental health crisis within the veteran community.
Staggering Suicide Rate
- The veteran suicide rate drastically outpaces the number of active-duty deaths in combat.
- Approximately 21 veterans die by suicide for every one killed in action.
PTSD and Lack of Evaluations
- Genetic predisposition or childhood trauma increases susceptibility to PTSD.
- Despite high suicide rates, recruits lack standardized mental health evaluations.