Your View: Better veterans programs needed

May 13, 2008 12:11 am

— In response to “Calling for help” on May 6, 2008, which addresses the police standoff with Mr. Papin, who is an Iraq veteran, I believe this incident draws attention to the need for an increase in government assistance in providing medical support to veterans.
The situation concerning Papin could have easily been prevented had our government taken the initiative to provide a greater number of programs facilitating the veterans’ immediate transition to civilian life. This is a crucial time since they are attempting to adapt to a completely different lifestyle and are dealing with emotional trauma. According to the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans, 45 percent of veterans are diagnosed with a mental illness and 200,000 are homeless on any given night. I support government funding that will help veterans with mental illnesses and will insure a stable transition for soldiers and diminish poverty levels. It’s hard to believe that anyone who once fought for our country could end up living in poverty due to mental instability catalyzed by the hardships experienced in war.
If the government created more programs that were well suited to assist returning soldiers with emotional pains, odds are these types of outburst would be less likely to occur. For example, the outbreak in Mankato would not have occurred and Papin would have received adequate medical assistance, making him better equipped to deal with future hardships. This standoff disrupted many Glenwood Terrace residents and jeopardized their lives. Clearly, the effects of inefficient and lack of programs geared for returning veterans is detrimental to our society and can in turn lead to cases of homelessness.