Our Debt With Veterans

In the United States, an armed forces veteran commits suicide every 65 minutes. Our society is just starting to recognize the extent to which almost 2.6 million veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts over the past 12 years have been affected physically and psychologically.

Few groups have suffered the ravages of war like Hispanics who —be it for patriotism or want of opportunity— now make up 13% of the armed forces.

While the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that 15% of all veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), that percentage is more than double (39%) for Latinos. This high incidence is due in part to the prejudice and racial discrimination to which Latino military personnel are still exposed.

For Latinos, treatment for PSTD must look into that and other societal factors, like the stigma still associated with mental illness.

However, many veterans begin a new battle when they return to their communities. Too many are forced to wrestle with the VA’s huge bureaucracy in order to obtain access to much-needed services.

The agency itself admits that more than half a million veterans have to wait an average of 165 days for their cases to be processed. We think this wait is outrageous.

We are glad that this Veterans Day will be the last one held during the Afghanistan conflict. Beyond our gratitude, we think that the government must eliminate the obstacles that prevent these veterans from receiving full and immediate care.

As a society, we must do more to reintegrate these men and women, by giving them opportunities to study and offering them jobs.

And on a day like today, offer a hug to a man or woman veteran and give them our heartfelt thanks.