Once A Soldier Advocacy for Veteran Funeral Loan Bill

Once A Soldier Advocacy for Veteran Funeral Loan Bill

Our Bill Outline For New Funeral Services Loan

Foot soldiers fightng for Veteran suicide postvention know that the strength of a Veteran family knows no bounds. Despite their sacrifice and paid-in-full status, paying the funeral expenses for an unexpected suicide is one challenge many can not meet. This bill outline is a critical step to fill this gap between the too-little, too-late Veterans’ Administration benefits and all or nothing standards of some funeral homes. Our local US Congressman John Rutherford, and his staff, continue to champion support needed for all American heroes. Their guidance will be critical to how far this bill can go.

magic mental health mushroom

Matt and Kristen Mahramus

You can see real love between these two. Matt left behind Kristen and their two children.

Veteran Funeral Loan Bill

Fueled by PTSD, TBI, MST and more, Veteran suicides continue to rise. However, increased postvention support for the families has not. VA death benefits arrive too late and too many Veteran families can’t bury their Veterans with dignity. This modest guaranteed loan will meet that need and close this gap.

Veteran Family Postvention Issue

  • VA death benefits offer no specialized support for suicide’s aftermath
  • Suicide victims typically leave behind no life insurance or savings
  • VA benefits end and leave the families without breadwinners

Key Solutions

  • Congress must enact legislation to create program
  • Would provide up to $2,000 – $8,000 for post 9/11 Veteran suicide families
  • Would be paid directly to the funeral services providers

Reasons to Believe

  • Recent COVID-19 funeral relief via FEMA proves it is possible
  • This solves our most immediate Veteran suicide postvention failure
  • The program would be limited in reach and scope  
  • VA death benefits, if any, would be directly applied to the loan balance

For more information, contact

Dave Barbush dave@onceasolider.org

904477999

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I WANT TO HELP
I NEED HELP

ABOUT ONCE A SOLDIER

Our Veterans are killing themselves in record numbers mostly due to PTSD. An overmatched VA can’t take care of them or their families. We will.

Soldier suicide leaves Veteran families with thousands of dollars of bills unpaid, mostly bank loans.

We are the only nonprofit standing with the families after a veteran suicide. Stand with us.

Our Mission: Become the preferred channel for donors, advocates and volunteers who care about veteran families left behind after a soldier suicide.

Links for More Information:

 

2021 VA Veteran Suicide Report

2021 VA Veteran Suicide Report

22/Day Down To 17/Day – Lower Suicide Rate From 2017 Spike

The VA recently released the 2021 Veteran Suicide statistics. The good news is that the suicide rate is down from the all-time high in 2017. Civilian suicide rates also fell at that time. From our point of view, this is great news, but we can’t help but shake our heads at the postvention needs of both the Veteran and the family are not more fully addressed. Read the full report here.

Here is the opening excerpt:

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ 2021 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report shows the overall
Veteran suicide count and rate decreased in 2019 from 2018 and from 2017.

The data within the report is notable because:

• It provides information from 2001 through 2019, while recent prior reports included data from 2005 forward.
• This update includes the most current data and applies methodologic enhancements, resulting in the most
comprehensive assessment to date of Veteran suicide mortality, for the years 2001-2019.2

There were 6,261 Veteran suicide deaths in 2019. Down from years before, but overall they are still rising from the 5,989 in 2001 when the VA started collecting data.

The report represents and communicates a “whole of VA” approach to suicide prevention that integrates strategic
planning, program operations, and program evaluation across the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the Veterans
Benefits Administration (VBA), and the National Cemetery Administration. The report represents and communicates
a “whole of government” approach to suicide prevention that integrates strategic planning across federal agencies to
facilitate complementary and collaborative prevention, intervention, and postvention approaches tailored to agencyspecific populations. The report represents and communicates the value of “public/private partnerships” to reinforce and
magnify collective and unified engagement of suicide prevention.

Given this background, this report includes the following updated information and data:

• There were 399 fewer Veteran suicides in 2019 than in 2018.
• There was a 7.2% overall decrease in the age- and sex-adjusted Veteran suicide mortality rate in 2019, as compared
to 2018.
• The unadjusted suicide rate for male Veterans decreased 3.6% in 2019 from 2018 while the unadjusted suicide rate
for female Veterans decreased 12.8% in 2019 from 2018.

Decreases in Veteran suicide across multiple fronts and methods of measurement in 2019 were unprecedented across the
last 20 years.

End of excerpt.

 

I WANT TO HELP
I NEED HELP

ABOUT ONCE A SOLDIER

Our Veterans are killing themselves in record numbers mostly due to PTSD. An overmatched VA can’t take care of them or their families. We will.

Soldier suicide leaves Veteran families with thousands of dollars of bills unpaid, mostly bank loans.

We are the only nonprofit standing with the families after a veteran suicide. Stand with us.

Our Mission: Become the preferred channel for donors, advocates and volunteers who care about veteran families left behind after a soldier suicide.

OAS Endorses Fast-Track Psilocybin Research

OAS Endorses Fast-Track Psilocybin Research

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 25, 2021 – Ponte Vedra, Florida

Once A Soldier Endorses a Warp Speed Option for Psilocybin Research To Save Veteran Lives

Psilocybin drugs are the rising starts when it comes to killing PTSD in post-9/11 Veterans

In recent days, we have modified our website to include the three major psilocybin treatment options researched today. MDMA, ketamine and magic mushrooms have separated themselves as superior to big-pharma anti-depressant medications. They have shown the unique ability to rewire the brain and destroy a Veteran’s PTSD. Marijuana to a lesser extend provides mental relief from PTSD, but psilocybin has that extra break-though into the subconscious. That’s where the real healing, and magic, takes place. For examples of what it’s like to meet your demons and win during a trip, check this out.

“There is a mounting body of evidence to support our view. And this research is coming from highly-reputable institutions in the US, such as the psilocybin research coming from Johns Hopkins.  We are losing the war on PTSD. PTSD is what kills our Veterans. All forms of micro-dosing these mind-altering drugs shows greater promise than the current schedule of anti-depressants offered by the Veterans’ Administration. We fast-tracked a vaccine for COVID-19, and rightly so. It’s time for that sense of urgency to motivate more help for Veterans with PTSD.” says Dave Barbush, CEO of Once A Soldier.

Indeed, earlier this year, all of the major Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) in the nation expressed their support, as well.

The best scenario for a successful psilocybin treatment plan includes a clinical setting, a trained staff, and a low cost. The best part of the data to date has been that the relief comes fast and is near permanent. Veterans themselves have weighed in on their feelings about it. They like the outcome. Their PTSD is gone. They may not like the process, but they don’t like being dulled by their anti-depressants either.

Mr. Barbush continued. “Our motivation for fast-tracking research and a parallel training of staff to be “trip buddies” comes from hearing the suicide stories from Veterans families. The horror inflicted upon the Veteran during war is passed down to the family in the years before the suicide. The suicide itself also enables the disorder to continue to grow.

Furthermore, our position includes a robust go-to market strategy that educates all levels of soldiers and family about PTSD treatments, screenings and practical advice on life insurance and post-suicide options.”

“Let’s face it, we are losing the war on Veteran suicide at this time. The more effort we’ve put into it to date, the less we’ve seen it working. In fact, the numbers are rising. And those numbers – the branded 22 a day, were probably low to begin with.”

 

Stop Soldier Suicide Charity Information

Stop Soldier Suicide Charity Information

Stop Soldier Suicide is a North Carolina Veterans Nonprofit

Stop Soldier Suicide, a North Carolina nonprofit organization, is on a mission to bring down the rate of Veteran suicide. If you look at suicide statistics in America, you’ll see that the annual age-adjusted suicide rate is 13.42 per 100,000 individuals. Men die by suicide 3.53x more often than women. On average, there are 132 suicides per day. The daily average for Veteran suicide is 16 per day. That’s over 10% of all suicides in America. Not to understand the problem, but something’s going on with our troops who turn into Veterans. Let’s look at what Stop Soldier Suicide charity does to carry out their mission.

stop soldier suicide logo

Programs and Services from Stop Soldier Suicide:

From their website, www.stopsoldiersuicide.org, here is their About Us nutshell:

We have a proactive and disruptive approach, focused on meeting at-risk individuals where they are. Our team provides personalized care and continued case management to help identify each individual’s specific needs. Whether it’s mental health support, housing assistance, or any other service, we work tirelessly to find the right and most effective tools. They also have graphics that listed their services:

Mental Health Support
Alternative Therapies
Resource and Referrals
Education and Training

That was all the information they offered about those services. We still weren’t crystal clear about exactly how they saved lived. That usually means that they’re a referral source that builds an audience of Veterans first, and that’s their strength. And that’s good. 

Here is their mission:

Our Mission
Reduce service member & veteran suicide by using enhanced data insights, focused client acquisition, and best-in-class suicide intervention services. 40% reduction by 2030.

Sounds good, but there is no further information on the details of how they do this. There are testimonials from thankful Veterans who have received resources and referrals to get help.

Here is one of their ways to get involved, found on this page: https://stopsoldiersuicide.org/the-legacy-coalition The Legacy Coalition is their donation page. So is their Battalion page found here: https://stopsoldiersuicide.org/the-battalion

So is their Rapid Reinforcement page: https://stopsoldiersuicide.org/rapidreinforcement

 With a large staff, and a web page on their impact, its clear that Stop Soldier Suicide is not only a misnomer for the American crisis we have, but a reason why we will never stop soldier suicide with the kind of help their offering.

 BONUS OP-ED

OAS supports dogs, horses, rucks, support groups and more as viable ways to help a Veteran with suicidal thoughts. They add warmth to an otherwise sad story. Our opinion is that these are stepping stone solutions that will lead up to the VA finally opening up each and every clinic for new ways to treat the brain and get off the pills.

The faster we throw that switch, and I know the VA has started to, the faster people get better. And the lessons we learn with our Veterans are lesson the rest of us can learn, too. There are better days ahead.

ABOUT ONCE A SOLDIER

Our Veterans are killing themselves in record numbers mostly due to PTSD. An overmatched VA can’t take care of them or their families. We will.

Soldier suicide leaves Veteran families with thousands of dollars of bills unpaid, mostly bank loans.

We are the only nonprofit standing with the families after a veteran suicide. Stand with us.

Our Mission: Become the preferred channel for donors, advocates and volunteers who care about veteran families left behind after a soldier suicide.

 

I WANT TO HELP
I NEED HELP

Patient Describes Psilocybin Mental Health Benefits

Patient Describes Psilocybin Mental Health Benefits

A Success Story Over Depression

A recent video posted by the Johns Hopkins Media Team shows an interview with a male patient who underwent psilocybin treatement. During the 28-minute story, he explains what it’s like to trip out and how he was able to defeat the source of his depression.  “Michael” overcame his 15-year long depression with just two sessions of psilocybins administered in a controlled environment. Michael had been in psycho-therapy for over 15 years as well, so he had some insights and a skill set that many newbies may not, but we wanted to share his experience so that others can gain confidence to try this old but new source of  depression and PTSD defeating drugs.

soldier rests

During his trip, Michael had a conversation with his "inner critic" that was the source of his depression. After the brief conversation, his demon "just sorta went away."

Talking animals, talking objects, geometric shapes from out of the 80s, and a conversation with his “inner critic” are all what went down when Michael took his first trip. Like many, he was diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression. It is this designation that many need to get to this next level of psilocybin treatment. Michael was also part of a Johns Hopkins program where he received “training” on what to expect. His trained professional “trip sitters” or guides, advised him on how to engage in the session, how to sit back and observe what was going on, and how to enable the change he wanted during the session.

This ability to be conscious enough to step in and out of the experience is key to a successful trip. His goal was to allow himself to talk to his “inner critic.” This critic was taking up alot of brain power, time and energy and was the key to his depression. He was able to defeat this critic by confronting him during the trip. In his own words, after the conversation, “he (his inner critic) was just kinda gone.” Putting a number to it, Michael says his demons are 90 – 95% gone.

Veterans struggling with PTSD demons have also given similar accounts of how they won. “It just poofed away.” is how one Vet described his PTSD reveral. He took a Ketamine IV-drip therapy treatment.

Michael said the turnaround has been ongoing. Unlike pills, the effects of psilcybin continue to help him long after the drug has worn off. He realized that sometimes there are benefits that don’t seem instant, but that reveal themselves over time. Michael said that in the days and months after his sessions, it’s like he’s no longer banging his head against a wall, rather he’s driving in a nail into the wall. His session becomes more useful and productive as time goes by.

“The human brain during a psilocybin session gets turned from a hard piece of clay, to a much softer more malleable one. Ruts that you’ve been stuck in get softened and you’re able to get out of them. There’s a plasticity to the brain that these meds create. They are able to hit the reset button on many of my emotional issues.”

Sources:

I WANT TO HELP
I NEED HELP

ABOUT ONCE A SOLDIER

Our Veterans are killing themselves in record numbers mostly due to PTSD. An overmatched VA can’t take care of them or their families. We will.

Soldier suicide leaves Veteran families with thousands of dollars of bills unpaid, mostly bank loans.

We are the only nonprofit standing with the families after a veteran suicide. Stand with us.

Our Mission: Become the preferred channel for donors, advocates and volunteers who care about veteran families left behind after a soldier suicide.

Links for More Information: