Dear Secretary Chuck Hagel:

We cannot afford to lose any more of America's dedicated men and women to suicide. Among active duty military, suicides have come to outnumber deaths from combat; veterans, meanwhile, are twice as likely to commit suicide compared to the national average. In short, we're not doing enough to make sure our service members are taken care of psychologically once they return from duty.

Often, coming home from battle can mean returning to another, more perilous war at home — a war of the mind and one that cannot be won without help from professionals. In addition, vets must contend with higher-than-average unemployment and homelessness, factors that drive up suicide rates nationwide.

I'm aware of the life-saving measures the Department of Defense has implemented to reduce the occurrence of veteran suicide, including setting up nationwide crisis hotlines and establishing more comprehensive mental health coverage. But telephone hotlines aren’t enough, because over 6,000 veterans take their own lives each year. This epidemic requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach that acknowledges all of the contributing factors and brings together all of the stakeholders in pursuit of a solution.

Please work with your colleagues to make sure veterans are getting the care they need.

Thank you.