Rep. Joe Pitts (D) House, District 67

In a difficult economy, many state governments have turned to cutting education funds in order to make up the difference in revenue shortfalls. In Tennessee, we recognize that a child’s ability to receive a quality education is potentially the most important event in their lives and that opportunity must be protected, even in difficult financial times.

This year, the General Assembly passed the budget keeping the Pre-K funds in place on a recurring basis, instead of the risky ruse of using lottery reserves for this necessary program. The state is required to continue paying for the program in future years and not be subject to cuts based on limited resources. Also included in our budget was funding for scholarships for our National Guard veterans.

The following is a list of legislation that I voted for and was passed by the Tennessee General Assembly with an effective date of July 1, 2009

• Public Chapter 38 – As enacted, removes restrictions on commercial advertising on school buses that requires such advertising to be composed of black lettering on a white background; prohibits advertisement of individual food items that, pursuant to law, cannot be sold via vending machines to students in pre-K through grade 8. – Amends TCA Section 49-6-2109(e).
• Public Chapter 127 – As enacted, places restrictions on universal mental health testing, or psychiatric or socioemotional screening of juveniles; requires certain consent by a juvenile’s parent, guardian, legal custodian, or caregiver before such testing can occur. – Amends TCA Title 9, Chapter 4 and Title 49, Chapter 2, Part 1.
• Public Chapter 153 – As enacted, requires, rather than encourages, school districts to include certain criteria in policies prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying. – Amends TCA Section 49-6-1016.
• Public Chapter 160 – As enacted, authorizes courts to notify the school of a child who is adjudicated delinquent based on an offense for which school notification is not mandatory under law. – Amends TCA Title 37, Chapter 1 and Title 49, Chapter 6.
• Public Chapter 262 – As enacted, removes requirement of passage of the Tennessee comprehensive assessment program tests in order to receive a full diploma; provides for end-of-course assessments; revises lottery scholarship day provisions. – Amends TCA Title 49.
• Public Chapter 283 – As enacted, restates provisions governing reporting of suspected child abuse by personnel of educational institutions and release of related records. – Amends TCA Title 10; Title 37 and Title 49.
• Public Chapter 315 – As enacted, requires written referrals for student’s behavior to be returned to faculty or staff member issuing the referral; referral to be kept in a student discipline file and not part of student’s permanent record. – Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6.

State Senator Tim Barnes and State Representative Joe Pitts

Senator Tim Barnes and I sponsored legislation (Public Chapter 204) changing the American History course requirements for a baccalaureate degree. Students enrolled in Tennessee Board of Regents schools were required to take 6 credit hours of American History but their UT counterparts did not have the same requirement. That presented problems for students transferring from one school to another. Now both systems follow the same guideline which help our college students and prevents them from repeating courses over time. This legislation was brought to me by a constituent that felt that Board of Regents colleges such as Austin Peay should be in line with the University of Tennessee system so that credits would be transferable from one system to the other.

It was a privilege to co-sponsor legislation (HJR 0079), passed by the House of Representatives, and is awaiting passage by the Senate that calls on the citizens of Tennessee to assure that every child is in a safe place reading together with a caring adult. It also states that the Tennessee General Assembly enthusiastically endorses NEA’s and TEA’s “Read Across America” program and recommits our state to engage in programs and activities to make America’s children the best readers in the world.

If you have ideas for laws that should be passed, that need to be repealed, or you need assistance dealing with any state departments, or about issues involving a state agency or department, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me by e-mail at rep.joe..gov or by phone as 1-800-449-8366, ext. 12043.

Free Kidney Disease Screening Available Saturday!

Consider these simple questions:

1. Do you have diabetes?
2. Do you have hypertension (high blood pressure)?
3. Do you have a family history of high blood pressure or diabetes?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you are at risk for kidney disease. This Saturday, July 11th, you, your family, loved ones and friends can get free medical assistance. Faith Outreach Church is hosting a free kidney screening from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. The church is located at 731 Windermere Drive. While the screenings are free, pre-registration is requested. Call 615-383-3887 to pre-register.

Free Centerstone Mental Health Fair

Also happening on Saturday is an later day health care outreach event at Burt Cobb Community Center.The Burt Cobb Community Center, 1011 Franklin Street, will play host to a free Mental Health Awareness Fair, from 2 to 4 PM. There will be information booths, mental health screenings, activities for kids and door prizes and free food. This is a Centerstone event. For more info, call 931-920-7247 or 249-5330.

Both events are free and open to the public. The general public is encouraged to support these free health care events and participate in the services being offered.

Every day in America, 540 children are arrested for various crimes, though in many cases there are mitigating situations that cause these children to come in contact with the system. Ms. Stafford suggests that we must not be “in such a hurry” to just lock up a child.

One major finding by juvenile justice professionals is that more attention should be paid to the mental heath of the child. Children in juvenile justice often have mental health and substance abuse problems, have a higher percentage of learning disabilities, have frequent histories of trauma abuse/neglect, violence in the home, and/or have parents with substance abuse problems.

We are not saying that detention is not needed, states Ms. Stafford. If a youth is deemed to be a threat to society, then detention might be needed, but children should not be locked up for status offences such as truancy, running away and being unruly. The present detention practices are contributing to overcrowding and an overrepresentation of minority youth in detention centers.

Minority youths make up about 23 percent of the population of Tennessee, yet they make up close to 53 percent of the detention population, according to a recent Juvenile Justice report. Montgomery County numbers are also very disturbing.

Ms. Stafford went on to say that “all is not lost” and we all can make difference in reversing this trend by doing our part. Check and see what a child needs first; a child should not have to be remanded to state custody to receive effective counseling. Early identification and intervention, positive advocacy, system accountably and culturally competent services are a must if we are to help today’s youth.

The program was followed by an overview of the many community-based organizations , each with table displays for the eager crowd of parents, elected officials, law enforcement officers and educators packed with information and educational materials about services that are available locally to help keep our youth out of trouble, and keep them mentally and physically healthy, motivated and encouraged.

Dr. Merriel Bullock Neal, Esq. Chair of the local DMC Task Force reiterated the message and the mission of the local task force and that is “It is easier to build a child than repair an adult”

Suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death in people of all ages. Also, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the average rate of suicides in the United States is 89 per day. This equals roughly one suicide every 16 minutes. In 2005, eight percent of U.S. high school students had reported at least one attempt at suicide at some point in the previous 12 months. The rate of U.S. high school students reporting that they seriously considered a suicide attempt in the last year was 16.9%. Also, males commit suicide at almost four times the rate that females commit suicide. In four out of every five cases, there are warning signs against possible suicide.

When the news of a loved one is given, the survivor goes through an emotional rollercoaster that never seems to stop. Grief, blame, anger, confusion, shame, relief, abandonment, despair, and betrayal are common emotions felt by survivors of suicide. They may feel angry at the person who has taken their life and feel as though they were not considering how it would affect others. They also may be confused by why that person felt there was no alternative. They may also face perceived stigma or shame at what others will think of the suicide.

The grieving process varies from person to person, and some stages may take longer than others. The grieving process may go away and resurface again later. For suicide survivors living life after their loss is never easy. Common phrases from friends and family such as “I’d kill myself before wearing that outfit!” or “I wish I were dead.” can feel like a slap in the face at what that person has just experienced. Survivors should understand that those phrases are often uttered without much thought and are not intended to be hurtful.

I lost one of my closest friends, Temple Kirkpatrick Smith Jr. on March 1^st, 2008. He was an all around great guy. He was pursuing a degree in science at Middle Tennessee State University on scholarships he had earned during High School just 2 years previously; he had just bought a house, had a great job, did volunteer work, had plenty of friends, worked as a youth minister in his church, and had a fantastic family. Kirk and I went to High School together, and we shared a lot of great memories. He had everything going for him, but somehow something made him take his own life. This revelation turned my sense of reality upside down. I knew it couldn’t be true; Kirk wasn’t depressed and didn’t exhibit any outward warning signs that are often associated with suicide.

On March 1^st, around 10:30am Kirk called one of his friends and made plans to spend time together the next day playing video games. Sometime around 11:45 a.m. he went to the Kroger near his home and purchased a candle lighter (the ones with the long stem). He then came home, entered his garage, doused himself in gasoline, and ignited the lighter. The call to police came in around 12:00-12:15 p.m. and the emergency services crew found Kirkpatrick, burned. They were able to stop the fire before it spread to the house.

As a survivor of his suicide, I’ll never know why he did this. All of the conclusions I can draw are that he felt there was no other method of resolving whatever problem he was having. The fact that he took this to such an extreme and violent means such as fire indicates to me that whatever was wrong had been torturing him for some time. In the month before this, I had spoken with him on the phone and we had caught up on the latest news on what was going on with each other, talked about summer camp (We were counselors together at a leadership camp we both attended previously) and argued over themes for camp. Nothing ever could have indicated that he was bothered or disturbed by anything.

For me, the most unsettling part of his passing is that I’ll never know the “why” that all survivors of suicide have a need to know. Some will securely take comfort in faith that they’ll see their loved ones again in the afterlife. I take comfort in knowing that Kirk will always hold a special place in my heart. Without the “why” some survivors find it difficult to work through the grieving process. I’ve found that the process never ends. Shortly after his passing, I saw Kirk in my dreams and heard his voice in my head. I still feel tears welling up in my eyes when I see his picture. I don’t know that I’ll ever get past these things.

Who is at risk?

Suicide survivors are at risk for suicide themselves. The entire experience brings suicide from the darkest shadows of our minds front and center and shifts our focus onto it. Because of this, suicide survivors may consider committing suicide themselves in an effort to be with their loved one. Often, they feel isolated and alone and may fall into deep depressions. Instead of being left to grieve on their own, friends and family of suicide survivors should encourage the survivor to talk about their feelings. Even when they say they don’t want to talk about it, you can still show your support by letting them know that you are available to talk with them. Let them know they are not alone, and continue to encourage them to talk about the suicide. Be considerate of any special days such as anniversaries and birthdays of their loved one. Don’t make assumptions or talk about things that you don’t know such as the suicide being a result of ongoing depression or commenting on the decision the loved one made. At that moment in time, they felt that suicide was the best option available to them and acted on it.

As time progresses, it will often be easier for the survivor to talk about their loss, and move along with life. I’ve found that it’s best for me to talk openly about what happened. I’ll still talk about Kirk as he was, such as “One of my best friends was a Titans fan.” I can’t just move on from our friendship as it was and not speak of him again. I can’t just erase the past six years of knowing him. I expect that other survivors feel the same way and don’t feel it’s appropriate to stop referring to their loved one, so you shouldn’t either. If they bring up the subject, you should feel able to do so as well. They talk about their loved one to remember them.

The warning signs

Everyone should be aware of suicide warning signs. They may very well save someone’s life. Watch out for friends and family who seem preoccupied with death and dying such as writing songs or stories or poetry about such. Be aware that people who feel hopeless are at risk as well. Making statements such as “Everyone would be better off without me.” are strong indicators that person may feel worthless and may see suicide as a way to stop being a burden. Also, people who start to settle their affairs suddenly could be preparing for suicide. Making out wills, making arrangements to care for children or other family members, and giving away all important possessions can indicate that person is trying to get things in order before a suicide. Major and often sudden changes in moods can indicate a risk. If someone has been sad or depressed lately and is very suddenly very happy and positive may have made a decision that they feel will bring them out of that sadness and depression by means of suicide. Isolation is often associated with suicide, withdrawing from normal activities can indicate depression which is frequently paired with suicide.

It’s important to make sure that the person exhibiting warning signs knows they can talk with you about their feelings. You should listen honestly and completely without passing any judgment on them or their thoughts. Offer that person hope. Let them know that their situation will pass and things will get better. Shift their focus from the problems in the now, to the goals and dreams in the future. Don’t promise to keep your talk a secret. If the time comes and you know they are going to commit suicide, you’ll have to choose to break a promise and lose the friendship or keep a promise and lose the friend. This is never an easy choice. Help that person seek out professional help. Research it with them online, find local help. Offer to drive them to an appointment with a therapist or doctor. Help them find ways to get their mind off of their problems. Join a gym together, go bowling with friends, or dine out at a favorite restaurant. Anything to get them out of their regular routine for a short while will help them clear their head about problems they’re having.

Listed below are some resources if you’d like to learn more about Suicide, Suicide Survivors, and Suicide Prevention. These were the main resources I used in this article and I hope you’ll find them equally helpful.

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/suicide_prevention.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/suicide/

http://ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/suicide.shtml

http://www.suicide.org/suicide-warning-signs.html

http://www.survivorsofsuicide.com/

http://www.suicide.org/suicide-support-groups.html

Knowledge is power, and empowerment is the goal of the first Women’s Health and Wellness Expo.

Free medical screenings. Free dental check-ups. Free eye/vision screenings. Nutrition and fitness information. Classes on marriage, self-esteem, and self-image. It’s all included in a single program being offered to the women of our community during a unique and absolutely free conference coming up on May 31.

This Women’s Health and Wellness fair is a Community Enhancement event sponsored by the Hispanic Organization for Progress and Education [H.O.P.E.]. It will be held on May 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Riverview Inn in downtown Clarksville. The event is free and offered as a community service.

Dr. Joy Twillie, a graduate of John Hopkins University will be the guest speaker on issues including Marriage and Self-esteem. Representatives from Centerstone will be available to discuss services they offer the community.

Women have unique health issues from their child-bearing years through menopause, issues that have a systemic effect. Since nutrition, exercise, and accessibility to basic health care are critical to women’s health and well-being, this fair is designed to integrate information on all aspects of physical and mental health into one comprehensive seminar.

In addition to these empowerment classes, the program includes diabetic screenings and information on this disease, along with a discussion of the risk factors for Type I and Type II diabetes.

In addition to free medical screenings, women will get a bit of pampering via facials and massages as part of this public health fair. In announcing the event, H.O.P.E. cited “a real need” for this type of program.

The event is funded by a state grant. Space is limited and women who want to attend are encouraged to sign up at www.latinohope.com and register before all the slots are filled up. H.O.P.E. regrets that no childcare can be provided for this event.

Last fall, there was an article in the Leaf Chronicle [10.12.07] titled, Fort Campbell General stresses suicide prevention. It reported that with nine suicides for the year, and 16 deaths pending investigation, and with three suicides in the last two weeks, the general said:

“This is unacceptable and it must stop. I want everyone associated with Fort Campbell to take pause, and to focus on what we can do as a community to reverse this trend.”

According to the Fort Campbell Courier, [12.20.07 vol. 43, no. 51], Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Schloesser, Commanding General at Fort Campbell, made suicide prevention his priority since he took command in 2006. He expanded the “buddy care” program, which has soldiers watching out for each other, to “unit watch,” a program used by commanders when a soldier has suicidal thoughts. Now he is training families to recognize signs through “Building Family Resiliency” programs. He was quoted as saying:

“The individual has got to take personal responsibility. They have got to take responsibility for themselves and realize that they can save their own lives. It comes back to the individual.”

An army wife spoke out about these articles and about what was going on at the base because of the suicide scares. This is her view, in her words:

I only became aware of these “programs” when there was apparently an increase in suicides in the November/December time frame.

At first I thought they had to be kidding.

The approach seemed to be such a knee jerk reaction and was basically like a lockdown. It seemed to be good for command but not for soldiers or families. It was said by a few soldiers that it had even been discussed to simply move all the soldiers on post until they left for deployment. A 75 mile radius without approved leave was instated.

My husband suddenly had to do two formations a day — am and pm. If his commander was not present they had to wait for the commander to show up — so sometimes they’d be waiting around for hours.

So during that last month together we felt the grip tighten and it was very uncomfortable in terms of having reasonable last weeks as a family. Deployment is hard enough without adding this type of stress. It was highly dysfunctional. There was nothing official given to the family. To my knowledge we were not addressed at all.

I remember thinking how reactionary this was, and how anyone with any sense at all in a management or leadership level should consult with psychiatric professionals on the matter. I do not believe this ever happened.

The reaction was so harsh to all of the soldiers and their families that it is a miracle it didn’t cause further damage in suicide rates. It certainly heightened the stress levels. It was so obvious a cover-yourself-paper-trail reaction. It felt like the command was incensed that these soldiers would do this (suicide) on their watch.

I never saw any concern as to the WHY or the CAUSE of this increase. It is no secret that this command has been less than supportive of its people. When I did a scant amount of research and found further documentation that this leadership places full responsibility for soldiers not being able to cope with deployment stress squarely on the shoulders of those soldiers, I was furious and disgusted.

The increase in deployment rotation no longer allows for families and soldiers to readjust fully and complete the emotional deployment cycle before they re-enter the next deployment cycle emotionally.

So the fact that this type of stress and reaction is placed solely at the soldier’s feet is absolutely wrong. I also find absolute absurdity and irony in the idea of “battle buddy” as prevention to suicide — especially if the soldier is to take responsibility for himself and his own actions. People who are at the level of being suicidal aren’t going to call some randomly assigned “buddy” to help them through it. Besides, they hand these soldiers weapons and these soldiers handle multi-million dollar equipment, but they need to be assigned a battle buddy to prevent them from killing themselves? I would certainly love to see the psychiatric basis for any of these decisions as well as the considered psychological impact on the family.

Do I feel like this command gave a damn about these soldiers or their families? Not at all. I think this command was concerned with the professional and political impact this (suicide rates) would have on their individual career. Is that a strong opinion-you bet it is!

What really amazes me is that this problem was bad enough to put these high level restrictions on our lives but not one single news outlet picked this up. The media should be ashamed if they knew and said nothing. I’ve heard rumors that this has been one of the worst years at Fort Campbell ever and that it’s possibly the worst rate Army wide.

But who’s to tell-none of the numbers are being released-just those of us going on with our daily lives being basically punished because some commander is furious that soldiers are so depressed that they have felt it necessary to resort to suicide.

My husband told me the way they assess risk is with a standard question matrix that they all had to submit to. A spreadsheet isn’t going to tell you accurately who is truly at risk. What is overwhelming emotionally to one person may be not a big deal to another. If “this must stop!” then why not bring in professionals? They have the access to them but they are too concerned with their career to do the right thing. It’s easier to blame the victim.

Someone once said “The first sure sign of lack of control is over-control.” How is it no one seemed to notice something was so desperately wrong over at Fort Campbell and so obviously out of control? Where are our representatives and our senators? Where are the reporters? Why did no one seem to notice this thing?

Local therapist responds …

Polly Coe, a Clarksville-based mental health therapist working with troops, said she has heard such comments,concerns and frustrations many times over. Coe writes:

I have heard comments just like the ones of the soldier’s wife quoted many times over, and I quite agree with her. The buddy approach is a farce. Understandably, the Army tends to suspect suicidal ideation as a means to get out of deployment. However, it is ignoring the clear fact that suicides are increasing and is not looking at why.

Between the second and recent third deployments, many soldiers I saw did not want to go on the next deployment. Primarily, they did not want to be gone from their families that long – e.g.:15 months. But even some of the Special Forces guys, who have shorter but more frequent rotations, have also expressed frustration at the inability to have a decent family life.

I have not worked with any suicidal soldiers. However, a couple seriously discussed harming themselves to avoid deployment. Relatively few of the enlisted soldiers and NOC’s whom I saw “believe in” these wars, although officers tend to buy into the wars more. Many of the enlisted soldiers do not seem to think that they are fighting for freedom or against the terrorists. They feel that their efforts are wasted, that they are risking their lives to do missions that will be undone the minute they turn their backs or go to the next town.

The soldiers with families are also aware of the impact their absence has on their families. Starting last summer, before the third deployments, I started seeing a lot of boys, age 10-14, sons of soldiers, who confided in me that they feared that Dad wouldn’t survive the third deployment, that he will finally be killed. I couldn’t promise them that their dad would make it, so this was heart breaking work as a therapist.

I would love an honest survey of the military who have to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan – how many believe that they are making a difference, improving the lives of the locals, saving the U.S. from terrorists? How many would volunteer to go? Perhaps the reason for the increased suicidality is the increasing disillusionment of the soldiers with the war.

Coe has frequently spoken out about the impact the war and multiple extended deployments has had on soldiers and their families across the country.

One avenue to becoming a better listener is to employ a system identified in psychology as reflective listening. It continues to be popular in teaching parents an effective means of communicating with children. It is also an invaluable technique for building bridges of communication. It is indispensable in teaching relational skills in college. It is used by progressive business brokers too. Even the military appreciate reflective listening. While in the Army I taught NCOs and officers the intricacies of this skill. Yes, even in such an autocratic system there is a place for listening.

Reflective listening is a way to improve relationships at work, play and within the family. It does take persistence, dedication and creativity to reach an improved level of communication. It doesn’t come easy. There are pitfalls to learning and using this skill, and there are ways around those pitfalls. As children of God, with spiritual resources we are capable of learning more fruitful way of relating to one another. With spiritual assistance we can conquer roadblocks to communication and successfully become effective listeners to our neighbors, co-workers, spouses and families.

Country Magazine, a monthly magazine that reminds me of my early years being raised by my grandparents on a farm in the Ozarks, is one I read cover to cover. Its gripping stories of country life hold moments of joy and sadness. In the story, A Bell for Killian, there is a demonstration of the principles of selective listening by grandparents.

Killian, the two-year-old grandson, came for a visit to the grandparents’ ranch in Alaska. As e departed, his mother gave a donation to his grandparents to “keep him safe.” As good grandparents they kept an eye on the two-year-old bundle of energy and were sensitive 24/7s for his safety on their isolated ranch of 150,000 acres of wilderness. But one sunny day, curious Killian escaped from the yard and found a way to neutralize all the safety measures (two-year olds are skilled at that).

There is a happy ending, though. The grandparents found him, and after hugs and kisses came the following words between grandpa and Killian:

“You scared us when we couldn’t find you. You must stay inside the fence unless one of us is with you. You might get lost or fall into the water.”

A basic guideline of reflective listening is shown by the grandfather: recognize and express your emotions. In this case, they (grandparents) were frightened and worried about Killian’s escape. Being an effective listener means being in touch with our feelings.

Focusing on the feelings is key to better communication and improving listening skills.

Charles Arrabine visited his daughter’s college campus on parent’s weekend. When they had dinner alo0ne, this conversation took place:

Kristy: I don’t want to stay here. It’s too hard for me. I am afraid I’ll flunk out. It would be awful to have to face my friends if I flunked out.

Charles: The work is too difficult?

Kristy: (tears in eyes) I am afraid I’ll flunk out!

Charles, in this situation, missed Kristy’s emotions; her feelings fell on deaf ears.

Improved communication begins with recognizing the feelings in each conversation. Recognizing and acknowledging the expression of feelings leads to a satisfactory resolution. reflective listening brings hope and releases inner strength, enabling on to solve their problem(s). Reflective listening creates bonds. It is a tool of healing.

The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, she was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let her know.

Old Age, I decided, is a gift.

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don’t agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, and my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I’ve aged, I’ve become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I’ve become my own friend.

I don’t chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn’t need, but looks so Avant Garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70’s, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love … I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody’s beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don’t question myself anymore. I’ve even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert single day. (If I feel like it)

Editor’s Note: I have stumbled across this item a dozen times in the past few weeks, but nowhere (so far) has the author’s name been posted. I’ve contacted quite a few individuals who have posted this online, but none of them can claim authorship. It falls into the realm of Harriet Jacob’s “Be An Outrageous Older Woman” and Jenny Joseph’s “When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple.” Thus, I have culled it for this site, because I believe you, our readers, especially those approaching “a certain age,” will enjoy and appreciate it. Anyone who might know the source is encouraged to contact us. — Christine Piesyk

In a press statement issued by URC director Terry McMoore, an immediate investigation was to be launched with the cooperation of several state agency’s, civic organizations and full media participation. Their hope was to get this multi-million dollar corporation shut down, or to at lest put CHAD under the microscope so as to prevent any more deaths at this facility.

McMoore said, “I have found the media reporting and news investigation to date both starling and very disturbing and I am sure you will to.” «Read the article at the Nashville Scene»

“It’s not surprising,” said Clarksville Therapist Polly Coe as she heard details of the report stating that suicide rates among Army personnel have hit their highest rate in 26 years, with 25% of those self-inflicted deaths occurring in the Afghanistan and Iraq arenas. Iraq led the numbers with the most reported suicides and suicide attempts, according to a report released by the U.S. Army.

I’ve been hearing about it,” Coe said, while voicing a bit optimism that the Army is acknowledging the program and bolstering its metal health treatment efforts for troops worldwide. “They (Army) have to got to face this. Many of these soldiers are facing overwhelming depression and desperately need treatment.” Mental health issues among troops have reached “disastrous” proportions, Coe said, noting that suicides have been occurring not just among enlisted troops but officers as well.

Army officials report 99 confirmed suicides by active duty troops in 2006, significantly higher than the 11 suicides recorded in 2005. The suicide rate is approximately 17.3 per 100,000 troops, up from the previous average of 12.3/100,000. The United States currently has 500,000 troops in active service.

Medical records of these soldiers indicated that at least one-quarter of them had at least one psychiatric disorder, with 20 percent affected by mood disorders, or diagnoses of bipolar disorder and/or depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder. The latter is the hallmark mental health issue of the Iraq conflict.

According to Polly Coe, a local therapist and one of many providers of mental health services for the Fort Campbell area troops, prolonged deployments, “especially these second and third deployments,” contribute to “family problems” including spouse and child abuse, financial problems, sex addiction, depression, job stress, and divorce.”

Coe is concerned that this third deployment of Fort Campbell troops, who will now serve 15 months instead of twelve overseas in war zones, will result in a sharp increase of psychiatric, psychological and behavioral disorders among enlisted personnel while overseas and when they finally return home.

“They are angry, and that can fuel or be fueled by depression,” Coe said, adding soldiers often dehumanize themselves in battle zones. “It’s a coping mechanism,” she said. “They begin to not show emotion, become like robots who don’t feel anything.” It’s their way of shunting aside pain and rage. But they can’t always turn that off when they come home. They isolate, or they explode, she said.

Coe joins the ranks of other therapists in also voicing concerns about the “dumbing down” of background checks and standards of new recruits in an effort to bolster recruitment numbers, in particular the much reported disregard of some mental health and medication issues which would under other circumstances have kept some military applicants out of the service.

“It’s disastrous,” she said, adding that some of these recruits are already having mental health problems or have been taking medication for such problems. The (structure and training) of the Army will acerbate that, she said. “It’s predictable.”

Coe was pleased that the Army is stepping up and acknowledging publicly that there is an increase in suicide, and increased efforts to address the mental health needs of troops both deployed and at home bases. “It’s a start.”

Army officials admitted to a “significant” relationship between suicides and suicide attempts and the length of deployment in Iraq, Afghanistan and bases in the region where troops are involved in the war effort. The conceded that there was “limited evidence” of a correlation between multiple deployments and suicide. Although preliminary numbers for 2007 currently show a decline among armed forces as a whole, there is an increase of suicide among deployed troops. Twice as many servicewomen deployed to war zones committed suicide compared to those stateside or in non-combat areas. Firearms were the method of choice among most suicides, while those who attempted to end their lives but failed more often when attempting to overdose or cut themselves.

In the wake of both public opinion and a demonstrated need for services by troops and their families, the Army has attempted to create a larger number of programs and expand mental health services to alleviate the stress created by a seemingly endless war, a battle now entering its sixth year.

In prior interviews with Clarksville Online, Coe said that therapists across the region are having a hard time keeping up with the numbers of troops and their families who need help coping with both deployments and the return of their loved ones.

The full report on suicide in Army ranks will be released Thursday.

The CNN report highlights an underreported aspect of the War On Terror. The fact that this soldier is right here in our midst makes the story all the more compelling.

Iraq Vet: “My Brain Will Not Let Go!”

By Thom Patterson, CNN

Un-dated photo of Spec. Jefferson on patrol in Iraq.

CLARKSVILLE, Tennessee (CNN) — A year after coming home from Iraq, AJ Jefferson is still fighting the war in eerie nightmares about the bomb that left him and two comrades seriously wounded.

“I’ve been told it’s normal,” the Army specialist said with a smile, “considering what I’ve gone through.”

The 21-year-old soldier has been diagnosed by doctors with several ailments blamed on the attack, including severe post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. He’s also been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, or TBI, which often is accompanied by forgetfulness and restless sleep. – Read more at CNN.com

The most disturbing thing is that Fort Campbell soldiers and others are now gearing up to return to the Iraq theater sometime after August. If this soldier’s problems have not been adequately addressed by then, what will be his disposition? At a time when the chain of command’s priority is count every body, every body counts. It is unlikely that a medical diagnosis of PSTD or TBI would be recognized, much less allowed, to deter redeployment. That’s just not how the system works.

Spec. Jefferson wanted to continue his service. But he should be receiving appropriate mental health attention. As recent news media reports have revealed, Jefferson is not alone in his struggle to navigate the military’s system of mental health care and compensation for injuries.

Mental acuity is essential in the combat theater that is Iraq. Exposure to the extremes which are the norm there work against that acuity. Soldiers must operate under continued stress and duress. These forces take their toll on the soldiers in the forms of physical and mental fatigue.

Our soldiers need their chain of command to support their efforts to attain and retain this essential element of personal readiness and survival. We don’t condone giving nonfunctioning or defective equipment to our military personnel. Why would we condone returning a troubled, defective mind back into the stressful situation which created the problem in the first place, unrepaired. That is a recipe for further troubles and possibly disaster down the road.

This story raises several uncertainties but leaves them unresolved. That is intentional. Spec. Jefferson is in the same situation. His future is unresolved, complicated by the morass of mental stresses and bureaucratic red tape that now dominate his life. Jefferson and his comrades deserve our support. They are part of the uncalculated cost of this war.