"Thank You For Your Service"

In the therapist's office, as in life, an individual's true beliefs are more accurately judged by what he (or she) does than by what he says. The same holds true for a society's beliefs. We say we love family, we say we revere education. But a glance at our actions reveals something quite different. The pathetic state of American public schools reflects the collective equivalent of deadbeat dads. When an individual or a group withholds support there is only one obvious conclusion: they don't truly love their children.

Along with the values of family and education, patriotism is a loudly proclaimed American value. In the years since 9/11, public rhetoric has become increasingly patriotic. Flags began to appear everywhere right after the bombing of the World Trade Center. They declared solidarity, unity, and expressed comfort to a stunned and wounded nation. The military response to the attack was widely supported. And, despite being unable to meet its recruitment goals for years (and ultimately needing to institute more flexible admission standards), the military continues to be widely honored.

It has become routine for perfect strangers to greet a soldier in uniform with, "thank you for your service." But an examination of our national actions reveals quite a different attitude toward the men and women who signed on for the honor to serve.

How many homeless veterans are there?

Although specific counts are impossible to come by, the VA estimates that 107,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. Over the course of a year, approximately twice that number may experience homelessness. Although only eight percent of the general population can claim veteran status, nearly one-fifth of the homeless population are veterans.

According to the Army's own report, today more soldiers are dying by drug overdose, accident, murder and suicide than in combat. Suicide is now the third-leading cause of death for soldiers. "We are often more dangerous to ourselves than the enemy," the report says.

Why is this happening? There are many possible reasons. Multiple deployments, the relentless fear and unpredictable violence of today's combat, the prevalence of brain injury due to IEDs, all these, and more, probably play a role. Today's veterans are a group that chose to enlist (which distinguishes them from their civilian cohorts), and that itself may be associated with a personality or other kind of risk factor we have yet to understand. Coming back home to a country with nearly 10% unemployment no doubt further complicates the veteran's reentry into civilian life.

Does a grateful nation let its veterans sleep on the street? Deny them treatment when they want to get well? Thank you for your service, indeed. The military's epidemic of mental, emotional, social and behavioral disorders demands an urgent and compassionate national response.