In an age where the planet itself cries for help, the youth carry not only the burden of the future but also the silence of those who refuse to listen. Their grief is not weakness, it is a warning.

Poem Of Witness

(Article: Tsunami 2004 Thailand The BBC)

I perceive its black shape even though the remains are mostly blue,

I cry a river and I can’t move,

I feel the sunbeds scraping my frozen bones beneath,

Again I can’t breathe.

I search a maze with chains of heavy lead in search of a boy,

I recall his name but the water steals my only voice,

I pray the damp air, desperate for relief,

Again I can’t breathe.

I still smell seaweed and blood even though there is more to come,

I call for my only child but the silence is still numb,

I can only pray in gods deserved test,

I only have one more breath.

The poem above reflects the pain of those who survived disasters and not only that the dead are victims. For a long time our society has been treating survivors of traumatic events poorly and most disasters are converted to statistics and are forgotten. Many people serving in the army have spoken out against their nation for treating them like animals during and after duty and they feel that their nation has betrayed them for what they have sacrificed. I believe a society that ignores survivors of disasters and trauma only breeds deeper wounds. By instead listening and offering long-term support we can therefore, create a community built on healing instead of hate.

When veterans are denied recognition and support after their service, the wounds of war are passed on to their families. War is a common traumatic event that many suffer from, according to a CNN article (19-03-25) about families and veteran suicide. It says "Since 2001, more veterans have died by suicide than have been killed in combat". That is outrageous and an extreme statement that the system doesn't fit its people, it must come to an end. I believe that if we don't make changes soon the situation is only going to get worse over time. The article also states that "Nearly 500 families have filed claims following the suicide of a veteran had their applications rejected" meaning they applied for greater care for their loved ones but were denied. That explains truly how the trust in the government and lack of interest in the army have evolved and how this needs to change.

Veterans carry invisible wounds from war that can last a lifetime, and PTSD is one of the most damaging. In an academic article I've read called "Post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans: A conceptual review" (03-2024) it claims that "PTSD is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders among veterans, with consequences for daily functioning and overall quality of life.". I empathize with them because imagine fighting for your country's independence and when the war is over you are treated equal to a normal citizen or worse. Feeling betrayed by the very country they fought is an extreme thought crisis I couldn't imagine dealing with. Personally, I have watched many movies in war settings that gave me a broader perspective on how life can be experienced. I really believe we should establish larger and more advanced help centers for those who suffer in silence.

Critics sometimes claim that veterans already receive enough support, and point to VA programs and suicide prevention budgets. But that isn't true because our statistics disagree and tell us that the group of veterans is suffering and we need to enhance our programs and increase the budget. But everything isn't all grey either, in the article sourced before from CNN it describes "The VA has made suicide prevention its top clinical priority and asked for more than half a billion dollars to address the problem in its 2025 budget.". This means in the USA we are making increasing and remarkable progress for a more mentally healthy world. But we need to establish this in every country and every continent.

In summary, we can conclude that the facts are showing that the mental health situation after traumatic events are currently in lethal decline. To counteract this we should take PTSD seriously and give people proper care to prevent more suicide cases and prevent people from feeling unseen. I believe everyone can make a difference and our only way of doing that is spreading the message. Tell your friends, parents, grandparents and use social media to forward it to someone else. One action is better than nothing.

Written by Emrik Karlsson