Mullin it over: One too many lives lost

Every suicide is a tragedy. Every life lost to suicide is one too many and the prevalence among our nation’s veterans is alarming.

In 2019, 6,261 veterans lost their lives to suicide, including 111 Oklahomans. Many of our men and women in uniform who come back from warzones overseas face mental health struggles once they return. Now, the events in Afghanistan have caused many veterans from all eras to feel hopeless and question whether their service was worth the sacrifices they made.

When our veterans sign up for service, they commit to protecting the lives of all Americans. We must keep our commitment to them and do everything we can to ensure people have the resources they need when experiencing a mental health crisis. That is why I have made improving access to mental health care a top priority in Congress. I will continue to do everything I can to ensure mental health services are available to all Americans.

All of us must work together to prevent suicide and during National Suicide Prevention Month, we focus on informing people on how to prevent this tragedy. Check in on someone you may be concerned about and let them know you care. Listen to them, let them know they’re not alone and encourage them to seek help. This seemingly small act just might save their life.

If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, please know help is available. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Want to stay up-to-date on what I’m doing in Oklahoma and Washington on your behalf? Sign up for my newsletter by visiting Mullin.house.gov/newslettersignup.