12,000 veterans a year attempt suicide while they're under VA care

Veterans suicides in VA care
DR. IRA KATZ, Mental Health Director, Department of Veterans Affairs says 12,000 veterans a year attempt suicide while they're under VA care.

I went to:
http://www.pbs.org/search/search_results.html?q=Veterans+suicide+&btnG=GO
Clicked on the link:

Online NewsHour: News Summary for May 6, 2008 PBS... Dr. Ira Katz is the VA's mental health director. He wrote an internal e-mail saying12,000 veterans a year attempt suicide while they're under VA care. ...

Paragraph 26 talks about Veterans suicide and Dr. Ira Katz:

A top Veterans Affairs official today defended the handling of suicide data. Dr. Ira Katz is the V.A.'s mental health director. He wrote an internal e-mail saying 12,000 veterans a year attempt suicide while they're under V.A. care. The e-mail asked, "Is this something we should address ourselves in some sort of release before someone stumbles on it?"

The chairman of a House committee, Democrat Bob Filner, suggested it was all a cover-up.
REP. BOB FILNER (D), California: This is a matter of life and death, a matter of life and death for the veterans that we are responsible for. And I think there's criminal negligence in the way this was handled.

If we do not admit, if we do not assume, if we do not know what the problem is, then the problem will continue and people die. If that's not criminal negligence, I don't know what is.

GWEN IFILL: (NewsHour correspondent)
Katz acknowledged the e-mail was poorly worded, and he apologized for that, but he insisted his motives were good.

DR. IRA KATZ, Mental Health Director, Department of Veterans Affairs:
The content of the e-mail, the body of the e-mail reflects an appropriate and healthy dialogue among members of V.A. staff about when it's appropriate to disclose and make public information early in the process.

GWEN IFILL:
A White House spokeswoman today said President Bush has full confidence in Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake. She said he's handling the matter appropriately.


Next Link:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec08/suicides_11-10.html
The Army says that suicides among active duty personnel have doubled in recent years, and multiple deployments might contribute to that increase. NewsHour correspondent Betty Ann Bowser reports

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VA Mental Health Director Asked to Resign over Suicide Cover-Up