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White House Will Write to Families of Military Suicides

Administration reverses policy to help 'destigmatize' problem

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 6, 2011 12:08 PM CDT

(Newser) – With suicides in the US military on the rise, the White House has changed its policy and will send letters of condolences to the soldiers' families, notes Jezebel. "The president feels strongly that we need to destigmatize the mental health costs of war to prevent these tragic deaths, and changing this policy is part of that process," explains a White House statement. The move comes after a formal request by a group of senators to scrap the "insensitive" policy, reports CNN.

The Obama administration agreed: "It is simply unacceptable for the United States to be sending the message to these families that somehow their loved ones' sacrifices are less important," said its statement.

Army soldiers take part in a suicide awareness session in Fort Riley, Kansas.
Army soldiers take part in a suicide awareness session in Fort Riley, Kansas.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
TIII
Jul 6, 2011 2:46 PM CDT
Wow! G.W. Jr would not have thought to drop the 44c on the letter! Awesome! A letter! Wow! Win!  GOBAMA! [fist pump! *BAM*] 
GenericLeftist
Jul 6, 2011 2:27 PM CDT
I would sure be exstatic to get a letter from a liar, warmonger, tax and nannie to death president, right after 3 1/2 years of waiting for him to send my boy home... Thank you Mr. President.
zdaydream
Jul 6, 2011 1:40 PM CDT
I'm glad these warriors are being recognized by the President.  <:-)
 

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