An Iraq
veteran from Pleasantville marked World Suicide Prevention Day by bringing
awareness to the issue in hopes to get other veterans the help they need.
Kristofer
Goldsmith, who is originally from Long Island, joined the military in the wake
of the 9/11 terror attacks. He attempted
suicide after suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and
depression related to his service in Iraq where he witnessed the horrors of
war.
More than 6,000
veterans die by suicide every year. The
suicide rate among veterans is 1.5 times greater than the non-veteran
population.
This week, an Afghanistan War veteran and
Dutchess County resident died by suicide.
Goldsmith is urging Congress to do more
to prevent suicides through laws like the Honor Our Commitment Act.
The bill aims to give veterans who have been dishonorably discharged, like
Goldsmith, access to health care— a key element in the battle to preventing
suicide.
Goldsmith was discharged with bad papers for his
suicide attempt and says more needs to be done to address this
issue.
"We've been losing more veterans to suicide
to each year than we are losing soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen in
combat operations and accidents,” Goldsmith says. “I think that if more
Americans understood this, they would be outraged."
Goldsmith started a nonprofit called
High
Ground Veterans.
If you are a veteran in crisis or concerned about one, you can call the veterans crisis line at
1-800-273-8255 or text 838255.