Mental Health

 By Olympia Duhart This is the letter no one wants. But for many families crushed by the pain of losing a loved one, this is also the letter that may bring a measure of solace.  More importantly, this is the letter that provides recognition by the government that the life taken – even by the victim’s own hands – was not lost in vain. This week, the White House announced that it would reverse its long-standing policy of not sending condolence letters to families of service members who commit suicide while deployed.  The move from President Barack Obama is one critical step toward reducing the stigma surrounding suicide and mental illness connected to military service. In his July 6 statement, President Obama recognized the complexity of the issue:  “The issue is emotional, painful, and complicated, but these Americans served our nation bravely.” Despite recent education and outreach efforts, suicide among military troops continues to soar. The Pentagon reported this week that close to 300 active duty service members committed suicide last year.  In his statement, the President defended the service members and called for an improved response to the conditions that contributed to their deaths. “They didn’t die because they were weak. And the fact that they didn’t get the help they needed must change,” President Obama said.