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PLAINS TWP. — Michael and Sally Wargo had no idea the inner struggles their son, U.S. Army Spc. Michael Wargo, was going through.

They did find out their son was very troubled, but it was too late — they were watching a video after their son committed suicide in 2013 at age 36, leaving behind a wife and child. In that video, in retrospect, they detected troubles he never discussed with them in life.

The Wargos were part of a roundtable discussion on the topic of preventing veteran suicides held Thursday at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center.

U.S. Reps. Matt Cartwright and Dan Meuser and state Sens. Lisa Baker and Mike Regan participated, along with federal, state, county officials, advocates and military personnel.

The group discussed how federal, state, and local officials can cooperate to help veterans, invest in their well-being, and prevent suicides.

But it was the Wargos — Gold Star parents — who provided the most insight, detailing how their lives were forever changed and how they were left wondering what they might have been able to do to prevent their son’s suicide. Their son served with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.

“These guys and girls are away from home for years and they want to get back to their families and life as they knew it before they were deployed,” Mr. Wargo said. “We never knew what our son was going through until after the fact. How many other families are out there that could face this nightmare.”

The Wargos, of Lehighton, suggested a program be established that would check on the veterans when they return home and again in six-month intervals to see how they are adjusting and to ask if they are OK.

“I think you would see that the answers would differ each time you talked to them,” Mr. Wargo said. “Most veterans won’t seek help. We have to seek them out and make sure they get the help they need.”

Mrs. Wargo said the possibility of suicide goes beyond the veteran. She said her granddaughter, Michael’s daughter, “tried to take her own life.”

“She blames herself for her father’s death,” Mrs. Wargo said. “We have to find a way to help her and help other family members who may have guilt feelings. We couldn’t have prevented our son’s death. We have to do more to help veterans and their families who are grieving.”

Mr. Wargo said they visited with their son in Delaware to talk about why he was seeking a divorce.

“He shut me out,” Mr. Wargo said. “We did everything to get him to talk about it, but he hid everything. He just didn’t want to talk about it. There has to be a way to reach people like my son before it’s too late. We were only trying to help.”

Baker said suicide is a difficult subject, but it’s critical to discuss to find out what can be done to help.

“This is a widespread problem that has shown no sign of abating,” Baker said. “After veterans have served for us, they should not have to fight the system to get help.”

Some alarming statistics

• 22 veterans commit suicide each day in the U.S. — double the general population rate.

• Post-traumatic stress disorder does not automatically lead to suicide — 27 percent of those diagnosed with PTSD have attempted suicide.

• Seven of 10 veterans who commit suicide are age 55 and over.

Regan said that Canada has a program for returning veterans. He said each veteran is placed in a one-month long program to reacquaint them with living as a civilian again. He said they are given training in financing, resume writing, job interviewing and social interaction.

“The program works,” Regan said.

Cartwright and Meuser said they would look into the Canadian program to see if they can present it in Congress.

“Sticking up for our veterans is a bipartisan effort,” Cartwright said. “I’m the author of a couple of bills to make more robust the VA effort to combat this plague.”

For more information, call National Suicide Prevention Lifeline/Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255.

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright speaks at a veteran suicide round table at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Plains Township on Thursday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL083019VA-meeting2.jpg.optimal.jpgU.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright speaks at a veteran suicide round table at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Plains Township on Thursday.

Sen. Lisa Baker speaks during a round table discussion on veteran suicide on Thursday the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Plains Township
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL083019VA-meeting3.jpg.optimal.jpgSen. Lisa Baker speaks during a round table discussion on veteran suicide on Thursday the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Plains Township

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser speaks on veteran suicide while Sen. Michael Reagen listens atthe Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Plains Township on Thursday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL083019VA-meeting4.jpg.optimal.jpgU.S. Rep. Dan Meuser speaks on veteran suicide while Sen. Michael Reagen listens atthe Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Plains Township on Thursday.

Michael Wargo
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_MICHAEL-WARGO.jpg.optimal.jpgMichael Wargo

Sally and Michael Wargo of Mission 22 listen at a round table discussion on veteran suicide Thursday at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Plains Township. Their son died by suicide.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL083019VA-meeting1.jpg.optimal.jpgSally and Michael Wargo of Mission 22 listen at a round table discussion on veteran suicide Thursday at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Plains Township. Their son died by suicide.
Roundtable discussion seeks ways to prevent suicides

By Bill O’Boyle

[email protected]

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.