Veteran Suicide

The Military Times released a Report on 2023 suicide statistics released by the Pentagon. It states: “Military researchers recorded 523 suicides in 2023, the highest total since 2020. The number of active-duty troops was 363, up from 331 a year earlier. . . .The Marine Corps had the highest rate of suicide, with about 35 cases per 100,000 people in 2023. The Army was just under 33 cases per 100,000. . . . The Air Force (about 21 per 100,000) and Navy (about 19 per 100,000) saw lower rates. But all four services have seen a steady increase since 2011, when the Department began formally tracking the issue. ”

According to Air & Space Forces Magazine, “the Active-duty component saw a 12 percent increase from 331 deaths by suicide in 2022 to 363 in 2023.”

The Grey Team draws a stark comparison: “As suicide rates among returning US military veterans continue to rise, the statistics now show that it is now six times more dangerous for an American soldier to return home from war than it is for him/her to actively be engaged in combat with the enemies of our country.”

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) uses oxygen, approved by the FDA for use in 14 indications. And it works, used 100,000 plus times in the US and worldwide. Safety and efficacy were demonstrated in 21 clinical trials. Ten states have enacted legislation, appropriating $32.3 million for HBOT treatments. HBOT is observed to eliminate Suicide Ideation! Veterans diagnosed with TBI / PTSD who receive HBOT begin normal sleep patterns, experience reduced nightmares, improved “in the moment” life with family, and gain the ability to return to normal life and sometimes employment.

The Obvious Question: Since HBOT Works to Heal TBI/PTSD, Why Isn’t the Veterans Administration Using It?