Tragic loss of Yolo County Iraqi Veteran

I was brought to a sad reality reading a notice of the death, by suicide, of Iraqi veteran Rafael Jauregui this week. As a psychotherapist, I wondered if he was able to access the mental health support due every returning Iraqi veteran in Yolo county and in our country. I recently watched "The Ground Truth," a video produced by Iraqi vets which vividly describes their journey as Marines through recruitment, training, war experience and aftermath. In this video, they relate experiences which continue to haunt them and trouble their relationships with those they love when they return home. As a therapist, their clear descriptions of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder followed by stories of being under-served by our Veterans Administration was unbearable. We can provide help for PTSD. Modalities such a EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) are proven through years of research to, in most cases, provide relief for those suffering from PTSD. According to the accounts in "The Ground Truth," as a soldier leaves Iraq, he/she is asked,"Do you think you have PTSD?" The answer "yes" results in a longer stay, maybe months out of the US for assessment and treatment, so most answer no. The soldier is then asked again as they are able to reunite with their families, "Do you have PTSD?" Their answer, "yes" will keep them from their families, possibly for months. The returning veteran, if suffering from PTSD, will often experience symptoms upon returning home, placing the need for services in his home county. His/her family should have education about reentry and access to services to support the veteran. We will never know what support was available for Rafael Jauregui but we must ask and assure that no Yolo County veteran of any war goes without the mental health and medical services they deserve. If the VA does not provide these critical services and counties will do so, VA funding should follow. Let's not forget our veterans, they ARE the troops we support.