It’s a well-known fact that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hasn’t been doing its job in serving our veterans as one veteran found out after being turned away. Not knowing what else to do, the Marine took drastic action, and unfortunately, there’s no going back now. The heartbreaking chain of events is leaving servicemen and fellow Americans outrage, and rightfully so.
A former Marine and Army National Guardsmen was denied admittance to a VA facility in Iowa City, despite telling doctors that he was having “serious mental issues.” Brandon Ketchum, only 33 years old, went into the facility on July 7th, complaining about his mental state. Ketchum made an emergency appointment with the facility and was able to speak to doctors about his condition.
The veteran had been suffering from substance abuse, likely stemming from his PTSD since returning home from combat 3 years ago. He had deployed twice to Iraq as a Marine combat engineer, where his job was to clear roadside explosives. He also served once in Afghanistan in the Army National Guard.
Ketchum’s girlfriend was also concerned about his substance abuse, which progressed from painkillers to heroin. His denial of services after seeking help for these concerns led the veteran to take drastic action when it seemed there was no help for him. Not long after being turned away from the VA facility, Ketchum committed suicide, ending his own life.
For reasons unknown, Ketchum wasn’t given a bed at the facility. Instead, he was turned away and then took his own life. However, a fellow serviceman is not going to let Ketchum’s death be in vain. In honor of Ketchum and to help other veterans suffering from PTSD and their families, a fellow Marine who served with him is attempting to create a non-profit retreat in Texas called “Ketchum’s House.”
It’s high-time the VA be held responsible for these deaths. Ketchum did what he was supposed to do when he went out and sought help. With an average of 22 veterans taking their lives each day, he was still turned away. After fighting and suffering for the nation, it isn’t too much to ask that the VA support and help our men and women in uniform to the best of their ability. But alas, this is what government run healthcare looks like, and the VA is facing no repercussions for how they handled the situation.