For the theme of the 6th VETTYS we have selected mental health to draw attention to the persistent failure of mental health care for our nation’s veteran community. The continual failure of this care and lack of meaningful action to address it is most clearly evident in increases in veteran suicide over the last decade. From 2009 to 2019 more veterans lost their lives to suicide than the total of American combat deaths during the Vietnam War. This statistic bears out, with veterans now one and half times as likely to commit suicide compared to the civilian population, despite the rise in suicide in the general population. 

Terri Tanielian from RAND made it abundantly clear in her congressional testimony: “This is a national security problem. We can and must do more to address this problem.” 

Therefore that is what we are doing and will continue to do.

Motivated by the numerous accounts of our members in the community about their struggles with mental health and accessing care we are taking action, launching Unexpected Voices at the VETTYS.

The platform of the VETTYS, enables us to bring a louder voice to our veteran community and call out the many flaws in the mental health care system and break down the stigma around mental health. With a louder voice, we will bring about actionable change in how the VA and the larger community treat and care for veterans with mental health issues. 

Our veterans have served our nation defending our freedoms, and they deserve to live fulfilling dignified lives in the country they served, it is the nation’s and our collective responsibility to ensure this.