Anne Midgley

No one wants peace more than an old Combat Veteran; we’ve seen the effects of it. My heart and mind are heavy, so very heavy. I have nothing more profound. My soul hurts. The arrogance of man never fails to astonish me. God have mercy on us.

Gregory Comiskey put into words the thoughts on the hearts and minds of many American Military University (AMU) veterans and active-duty service members, as the world woke to news of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Reuters reported “Ukrainian forces battled Russian invaders around nearly all of the country’s perimeter on Thursday [February 24, 2022] after Moscow mounted a mass assault by land, sea and air in the biggest attack on a European state since World War Two.”[1]

Six months later, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused an horrific loss of life on both sides with estimates that over 5,500 civilians and 9,000 Ukrainian soldiers and as many as 25,000 Russian soldiers have died. The conflict has led to over 6.6million refugees fleeing the war zone. Yet the fighting continues.

As members of the American Public University System (APUS) family, most American Military University (AMU) and American Public University (APU) students, alumni, faculty, and staff recognize that more than eighty-five percent of our student body is comprised of Active Duty, National Guard, Reserves, and Veterans.[2] Many of our classmates, student organization members, faculty, and staff have military background or are military family members. As a community, the care and concern that we have for each other and our desire to help our friends in need defines us. It is critical that we recognize the heightened risk of post-traumatic stress syndrome and suicide that effect our military and veteran friends and family.  

As members of the APUS community, we should strive to understand the stresses that can contribute to an increased risk of suicide among active duty military and veteran classmates and friends. While the circumstances associated with suicide are complex, Military One Source provides the following risk factors, categorized by life circumstances, psychological issues, and cultural issues:[3]

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Many Veterans have multiple risk factors (Life, Psychological or Cultural), compounding suicidal ideation.[4]

Dr. Robert G. Smith, LTC (Ret) US Army, former full professor at American Military University’s School of Security and Global Studies, taught APUS instructors a seminar on PTSD “One Veteran’s Perspective from the Fulda Gap to GWOT,” based on his experiences as a combat veteran wounded by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) during deployment to Iraq. As a consultant to this article, Smith noted that the loss of comrades—or for leaders the loss of personnel under their command—is also a critical risk factor for many veterans.[5]

The Veterans Crisis Line provides immediate assistance by phone, chat, or text. The Veterans Crisis Line is 1-800-273-8255, press 1. Veterans Crisis Line lists the following warning signs:[6]

• Appearing sad or depressed most of the time
• Hopelessness
• Anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness, or mood swings
• Feeling as if there is no reason to live
• Feeling excessive guilt, shame, or sense of failure
• Rage or anger
• Engaging in risky activities without thinking
• Increasing alcohol or drug misuse
• Losing interest in hobbies, work, or school
• Neglecting personal welfare and appearance
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Showing violent behavior, like punching a hole in the wall or getting into fights
• Giving away prized possessions
• Getting affairs in order, tying up loose ends, or writing a will

However, in our online classrooms and student organization Facebook chat rooms, we cannot observe many of the risk signs that might be more obvious in face-to-face interaction.  How can we recognize if one of our peers is at risk of suicide in an online environment?

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a Social Media Safety Toolkit #BeThere that can help. As the toolkit focuses on social media interactions, it is especially applicable to interactions on Facebook and Twitter. However, some of the same warning signs discussed may also appear in online classroom interactions.[7]

The toolkit references research from the University of Utah, which notes that veterans who died by suicide were more likely to:[8]

• Post about stressful events and then immediately talk about emotional distress and negative thoughts.
• Talk about alcohol consumption or post pictures involving alcoholic beverages.
• Post content that rapidly switched back and forth between positive emotional content and negative emotional content.
• Post pictures of personal firearms but not of friends and pets.

#BeThere provides sample posts and tweets that signal emotional distress as well as sample responses. In each sample response, the author responds with care and concern, acknowledges the pain and suffering of the veteran, and provides recommendations for immediate support. A sample response from the toolkit reads: “@ screen name: It concerns me to hear about what you’re going through. Know that you are not alone and there is support that can help. Call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, text to 838255, or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/ Chat. A responder will talk with you anonymously.”[9]

The key message is that “If you notice someone on social media exhibiting signs of a potential crisis, don’t wait for somebody else to take action. Follow these steps:”[10]

1. Contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1. Do this regardless of whether there is an immediate threat of suicide or harm to others.

2. Reply to the post with one of the safe messaging examples provided in this toolkit‚ which include information on the Veterans Crisis Line and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

3. Report the post to the social media platform, using the resources provided in this toolkit.

Take a few moments to watch “Simple Things Save Lives” produced by the Defense Suicide Prevention Office—it provides additional clues to a friend posting concerning messages online and ways to help.[11]

If you, a friend, or loved one may be at risk, take steps to connect and protect a life. If it is not a crisis, there are things that can be done to build resilience and improved mental health, such as ensuring access to medical care for both physical and mental health; building and maintaining a network of friends, family, and colleagues; and being alert to everyday stressors that can trigger emotional disconnect or depression.

APUS provides a list of cognitive and mental health resources that can help promote mental health and aid in suicide prevention. Those resources are available here.[12] Additionally, although she declined to contribute to this article, APUS Chaplain Cynthia Lindenmeyer can help and typically responds to students within 48 hours. The best way to reach the Chaplain’s office is through email at Chaplain@apus.edu.

Each life is unique and irreplaceable—we need each other and our community. Our veterans have faced and surmounted many difficulties in the past—particularly in combat—that have prepared them in a unique way for unknown challenges ahead. The outbreak of war in Europe and high potential for conflicts in Asia and other parts of the world is a clear reminder that the future is uncertain. The strength and courage of our veterans is a key asset to our joint future security.[13]

Please familiarize yourself with the resources outlined—they may help you to save a life.

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Notes

 [1] Natalia Zinets and Aleksandar Vasovic, “Russia invades Ukraine in Europe’s ‘darkest hours’ since WWII,” Reuters, February 24, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-orders-military-operations-ukraine-demands-kyiv-forces-surrender-2022-02-24/.

[2] “Fast Facts,” American Military University, September 30, 2021, https://www.amu.apus.edu/aboutus/index.html.

[3] “When a Service Member May Be at Risk for Suicide,” Military One Source, last modified September 2, 2021, https://www.militaryonesource.mil/health-wellness/mental-health/suicide/when-a-service-member-may-be-at-risk-for-suicide/

[4] Lauren M. Denneson, Alan R. Teo, Linda Ganzini, Drew A. Helmer, Matthew J. Bair, and Steven K. Dobscha, “Military Veterans’ Experiences with Suicidal Ideation: Implications for Intervention and Prevention” Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior 45 (4): 399–414, accessed February 24, 2022, doi:10.1111/sltb.12136.

[5] Dr. Robert G. Smith, text message to author, February 24, 2022.

[6] “Signs of Crisis,” Veterans Crisis Line, accessed February 23, 2022, https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/signs-of-crisis/.

[7] “Social Media Safety Toolkit for Veterans, Their Families, and Friends,” US Department of Veterans Affairs, accessed February 23, 2022, https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/docs/OMH-074-Suicide-Prevention-Social-Media-Toolkit-1-8_508.pdf.

[8] “Social Media Safety Toolkit.”

[9] Ibid. 

[10] Ibid. 

[11] “Defense Suicide Prevention Office,” Department of Defense, accessed February 23, 2022, https://www.dspo.mil/.

[12] “Cognitive & Mental Health Resources,” APUS Help Center, accessed February 23, 2022, https://www.amu.apus.edu/help/university-information/cognitive-mental-health-resources.html.

[13] Sam Kessler, text conversation with author, February 25, 2022.