ALERT (03/07/2024): Due to a lightning strike, WVPB TV will be off the air in the Bethany/Wheeling area until new parts arrive. Thank you for your patience.
Across the nation, there are more and more local news deserts; communities with no local newspaper, television or radio station to cover what’s going on. When a small town paper like The Welch News in McDowell County, WV, can’t compete and shuts down, losing those local eyes and ears can affect accountability. No one is there to watch over things. Local news also provides a sense of cohesion and identity for a community. What happens when it’s gone? This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center.
Still Counting Casualties Inside Appalachia: How Invisible Scars Lead To Veteran Suicide
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Suicide is a major problem for veterans all across the country. But the problem is even worse in rural areas, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). On this week’s episode, veterans in West Virginia share their stories about what it’s like to return home from war, and what veterans are doing to help and support each other.
The number of veterans who die by suicide is staggering. A 2012 study from the VA found that 22 veterans commit suicide every day, though a new study by the VA says the rate is probably closer to 20 per day.
For veterans, who have seen and done things we civilians can scarcely imagine, it can be difficult to find someone that understands their pain.
Some veterans say they’ve found some healing by helping their fellow veterans.
This episode features the voices of five of these veterans who were featured in a recent West Virginia Public Broadcasting documentary called Still Taking Casualties.
Damien Gavis, who accompanied special forces to rural towns to build relationships in Afghanistan.
Mark Combs, a veteran and the host of a recent documentary entitled “Still Taking Casualties.”
Christopher Morris, a Corporal who suffered a traumatic brain injury who came back, went to college, and lost his veteran roommate to suicide.
Sarah Leifeit, a veteran who served for twelve years and two tours, one if Iraq and one in Afghanistan, who was sexually assaulted.
Jeremy Harrison, a veteran who has tried to help his fellow brothers and sisters in arms by becoming a therapist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43TUi_AYFeY We’ll also remember the life of veteran Tyler Burroughs, a close friend of Mark Combs who helped put together the documentary Still Taking Casualties. Burroughs took his life this summer.
Moral Injury
And our host Jessica Lilly speaks with Pulitzer Prize Winning writer Eric Newhouse, author of Faces of Combat.
We’ll hear what the VA is doing to partner with non-profits in West Virginia to reach more veterans in rural areas.
Veterans in rural areas are more likely to commit suicide than veterans in urban areas.
It is possible that this problem is due to the lack of accessibility to help in rural areas. This episode also explains how modern technology and the internet is being used to create discussion, counsel and help when there previously was none. Suicide is the most tragic of all preventable deaths, and it something that we all can help prevent. If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can call the VA crisis hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting has a new app for veterans to share their story and connect with each other, called The War in My Words. Watch or listen to veteran stories. Discover what other West Virginia vets have experienced. You can sort by war, branch of service, unit or year.
Music in this episode was provided by Dylan McGonicle and Michael Hitchcock. Our producer is Roxy Todd. Our editors this week were Catherine Moore and Jesse Wright. Our audio mixer is Zander Aloi.
Across the nation, there are more and more local news deserts; communities with no local newspaper, television or radio station to cover what’s going on. When a small town paper like The Welch News in McDowell County, WV, can’t compete and shuts down, losing those local eyes and ears can affect accountability. No one is there to watch over things. Local news also provides a sense of cohesion and identity for a community. What happens when it’s gone? This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center.
On this West Virginia Morning, it has been a year since allegations of illicit recordings of cadets and other women at the West Virginia State Police barracks launched federal and state investigations into the law enforcement department. We speak with the superintendent of state police for an update.
On this West Virginia Morning, political analysts say the two Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate in the upcoming May primary election give voters some particular, and troubling, food for thought. The candidates themselves say voters need to focus on the positives, not the negatives.
On this West Virginia Morning, shortly after the first COVID-19 case hit West Virginia four years ago, our way of simple day-to-day living drastically changed. Many of those alterations dealt with how we went shopping. Randy Yohe spoke with West Virginia Retailers Association President Bridget Lambert on COVID-19’s effect on retail – and how our shopping lives have forever been changed.