According to the New York Times, veteran suicides have spiked dramatically in recent months, outpacing war deaths. Even as the United States has withdrawn from Iraq, the suicide rate among veterans spiked 18% in the first 5 months of 2012 versus the same time period in 2011. Mike Mullen, former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that including all veterans from all past wars, 18 are taking their own life everyday.
When our troops come home, our support should be stronger than ever so that we can effectively reintegrate them into society. Education and financial support are essential, but so is mental health. The long-term effects of war are taking their tole on our soldiers. It is a moral imperative that we not fail them once their job is done. After all, they did not fail us.