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October 13, 2010
APA Urges Obama Not To Withhold Condolence Letters To Families Of Service Members Who Commit Suicide
The Los Angeles Times (10/12, Healy) "Booster Shots" blog reported that in a news release (pdf) dated October 12, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) "urged President Obama to reverse a long-standing policy of withholding condolence letters to the families of US servicemen and women who commit suicide."
APA president Carol A. Bernstein, MD, stated, "A reversal of this policy to allow condolence letters to family members will not only help to honor the contributions and lives of these servicemen and women, but will also send a message that discriminating against those with mental illness is not acceptable."
The Wall Street Journal (10/12, Wang) "Health Blog" reported that the APA is joined in calling for the reversal of this policy by the advocacy groups Mental Health America and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, both of which are circulating petitions to overturn the White House's current unwritten policy on condolence letters.
Related Links:
- "Mental health groups call on President Obama to recognize military personnel who commit suicide," Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, October 12, 2010.
- "Psychiatric Group to White House: Change Suicide Condolence Letter Policy," Shirley S. Wang, Wall Street Journal, October 12, 2010.
Posted by admin at October 13, 2010 08:15 PM