No Result
View All Results
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Results
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Reserve & National Guard

Former Navy SEAL: Suicide prevention committee should study mild TBI

Crystal Kupper
by Crystal Kupper
September 5, 2022
Suicide prevention

Ryan Larkin, a Navy SEAL, died by suicide in 2017. Courtesy photo

When the Department of Defense announced the formation of a veteran suicide prevention committee,  former Navy SEAL Frank Larkin knew exactly what they should study: mild traumatic brain injuries in military members.

“The fact is, we haven’t moved the chains down the field very far in 20 years when it comes to veteran suicide,” he said. “So many of these vets may be brain-injured or have brain-health challenges that are complicating their mental health status and behavior.” 

Larkin, a former Secret Service deputy assistant director and U.S. Senate sergeant at arms, lost his son Ryan, also a SEAL, in 2017. Ryan, who died by suicide, completed four combat tours during his decade in the Navy, experiencing countless nearby explosions as he worked as a combat medic, sniper and explosives breacher.

Per Ryan’s request, the Larkins donated his brain for research purposes, where scientists discovered significant brain damage “uniquely related to blast explosion,” Larkin said. He learned that sort of injury can often present behaviorally as PTSD, depression and the like, leading to misdiagnoses and ineffective treatments.

Calling for change 

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III established the Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee (SPRIRC) in March. SPRIRC plans to use mental health experts, as well as those from chaplaincy and public health fields, to study best practices in preventing military suicide. As of 2019, the veteran suicide rate was 31.6 per 100,000, substantially higher than civilian rates, according to VA data.

The committee, according to its charter, “will review the suicide prevention and response programs and other factors that may contribute to the incidence or prevention of suicide” at selected military installations. Recommendations will then be made to align policies and programs with “the emerging needs of the total force.”

RELATED: Former mortarman uses social media to raise awareness about mental health

Members will visit nine CONUS and OCONUS bases from July through October, including Fort Campbell, Camp Lejeune and Eielson Air Force Base.

Larkin is the current COO of Warrior Call, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting isolated service members with other veterans and their surrounding communities. While he believes the DOD commission is a positive step, he worries it is incomplete.  

“There is a growing body of evidence that many [military members] have undiagnosed brain injuries,” he said. “When someone is struggling, everything defaults to mental health diagnoses ― and then come the drugs.”

While Larkin said he believes prescription medications have their place in preventing suicide, he also knows from Warrior Call’s 1,000 annual clients that pills are often the first ― and even only ― resort. Some veterans he’s spoken with, he said, are on as many as 20 medications in their quest to “feel normal” again. Yet they often end up feeling anything but. What is necessary, Larkin said, is a holistic, unified approach to the problem.

VA suicide prevention

VA officials recently announced a $20 million challenge inviting Americans to find creative ways to prevent veteran suicide. Larkin and his Warrior Call team will give them one for free:

“The DOD commission must examine the prevalence of this significant issue and recommend better screening to identify personnel with [minor traumatic brain injury] and treat before they spiral into suicidal behavior,” the organization wrote in a recent press release.

“Our leaders are spending more time fighting with each other instead of getting the important work of the nation done,” Larkin said. “Preventing veteran suicide is one of the critical things they need to do, because these men and women volunteer to protect us and our freedom.”  

To learn more about preventing veteran suicide with Warrior Call, visit the organization’s website.

Read comments
Tags: Camp LejeuneCONUSDepartment of DefenseDODEielson AFBEielson Air Force BaseFort CampbellLloyd AustinMental Healthmental health expertsNavyNavy SealOCONUSPost-Traumatic StressPTSDSecretary of DefenseSPRIRCSuicidesuicide preventionSuicident Prevention and Response Independent Review CommitteeVAveteranVeteran AffairsVeteran suicideveteran suicide prevention committeeveteran suicide rateWarrior Call
Crystal Kupper

Crystal Kupper

Crystal Kupper is a writer, photographer, runner, mom of (at least) four and Air Force wife currently stationed in Arizona. There's nowhere she'd rather be other than with her family or chatting about orphan justice.

Related Posts

‘Will never happen again’: National Guard chief assures lawmakers after top secret docs leaked

by Military.com
3 days ago
0
Hokanson

NGB Chief Gen. Daniel Hokanson vowed that another leak like the breach allegedly carried out by Jack Teixeira won't happen again.

Read more

Reserve Marine foils DC-area human trafficking ring hours before fitness test

by AmeriForce Exclusive
2 weeks ago
0
Marines of Marine Advisor Company A, Force Headquarters Group, take part in a military awards ceremony on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., May 5, 2023. One of the four Marines being recognized thwarted a transnational criminal human trafficking organization while drilling with his unit that weekend by identifying the signs of exploitation and ultimately freeing a handful of young teenage women with the Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force. Provided by MCAC-A

A Reserve Marine officer saw what he believed were indications of human trafficking & helped save girls allegedly forced into...

Read more

Guardsmen, reservists who retire early could get cheaper health care under Senate bill

by Military.com
3 weeks ago
0
Airmen of the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing take part in a 9/11 20th anniversary ceremony in Sioux City, Iowa September 11, 2021. Ter Haar/U.S. Air National Guard

Guardsmen and reservists who retire before age 60 would be eligible for low-cost military health care plans under a bi-partisan a...

Read more

Paper: Decomposing bodies, handling remains among top stressors of COVID-19 mission

by AmeriForce Exclusive
3 weeks ago
0
Spc. Dylan Messina from Albany, N.Y., assigned to the New York Army National Guard, plays with Dakota, a Labrador retriever service dog provided by Puppies Behind Bars, in New York City, April 21, 2020. Photo by Senior Airman Sean Madden

A survey found that talking with other guardsmen was the best way to relieve stress after being involved with the...

Read more

Psychological health directors discuss readiness impacts

by National Guard Bureau
1 month ago
0
psychological health

Air National Guard directors of psychological health focused on best practices, trends & changes to psychological health needs for airmen.

Read more

YogaFit’s warrior’s program aids those dealing with trauma

by AmeriForce Exclusive
1 month ago
0
YogaFit

YogaFit for Warriors is a trauma-informed program designed for those who have PTSD or a desire to help those with...

Read more

Ads

Let's get social

The RNG Drill

News delivered directly to your inbox

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL
  • GET THE NEWSLETTER

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS

  • PITCH US
  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2021 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

No Result
View All Results
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • SPORTS
  • OPINION
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2022 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Site by SCBW