Veteran Commits Suicide Outside Cleveland VA Medical Center

CLEVELAND — A veteran took his own outside the Cleveland VA Medical Center on Monday morning. The incident has sparked political outrage and a demand for improvement of services.

Details on the incident have been limited due to privacy concerns for the veteran's family.

“I am heartbroken following the suicide of a veteran outside the Cleveland VA this morning,” said Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat for Lorain. “The level of pain that brings someone to suicide is fortunately unimaginable to many of us. My sincere condolences and prayers are with the veteran’s family and friends during this immensely difficult time.”

Kaptur went on to call for an investigation into the epidemic of veteran suicides in the U.S. She noted that nearly 20 veterans a day take their own lives, and seven veterans committed suicide on Veterans Administration property in 2019 alone.

House Veteran Affairs Chairman Mark Takano, a Democrat from California, wrote a blog for the Hill on Monday, calling on his colleagues and the nation to do more for veterans. He called the rash of suicides a "national public health crisis."

President Donald Trump has called veteran suicide a "national tragedy."

The VA said veterans can always reach a trained mental health professional by calling 1-(800)-273-8255 and pressing 1. Or they can chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255. This confidential support is available to all veterans & their loved ones 24/7.