I don't think they understood the repercussions of going to war in Afghanistan or the repercussions of the mental wounds that our young men and women would sustain. No, they were not prepared. As they attempt and struggle to cope with the problems, we've had suicides. We don't track suicides in the veterans community. Yes, we know that there are over 170 dead in the military community, but how many veterans...? How many veterans out there just got frustrated to the point that they walked off in the woods, as Kimberly said, and didn't come home? That's why it's so important.
If we leave any message today, it's that this proactive posture must be adopted, because it does prevent suicide. It does prevent frustration. It does bring you into the fold. When they call you, you're not abandoned. You don't feel adrift when a case manager phones up and asks you how you are and how you're feeling and says that it's just a courtesy call. A courtesy call? I've never had a courtesy call. No one is asking me how I've been feeling.
I think that's the way we move forward. It has to be a personal touch. It has to be proactive engagement.