Roughly 18 to 22 military veterans a day commit suicide. The causes for this tragedy are typically depression fueled by the reaction to PTSD, survivor’s guilt, or low self-esteem due to unpreparedness for civilian life.

It is the purpose of this petition to put in place changes to the existing military discharge process that would eliminate or at the minimum reduce these events. The changes require two additions to the existing discharge process.

One, to put in place a PTSD/survivor’s guilt, suitability for civilian life screening step in the discharge process. Two, if the result of the screening is that there is or may be a problem, to require a treatment step of at least 12 weeks before discharge.

In addition to the normal physical examination that occurs during the military discharge process, we urge that an additional step be added that screens for the possibility of PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and unpreparedness for civilian life afflictions.