taosbat SOS

March 3, 2007 4:20 PM

Tragic news from one of our own. May I be the first to suggest we get a best answer for this question and make donations as a group? I don't know what else to do. Ideas?
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur to MetaFilter-Related at 4:20 PM (25 comments total)

So sad. I like the idea of a group donation, but right now, I think the most charitable thing we can do as a group would be to stop posting links to sites where he might find resources and start going through these sites ourselves and maybe take some time out of our schedules to contact the sites ourselves to get some answers for him. He really shouldn't have to wade through memorial sites, etc.
posted by necessitas at 4:34 PM on March 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

Exactly. this is our forte, we can do it the real world too.
And Taosbat Gender: F
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 4:41 PM on March 3, 2007

oops! I missed the gender.
posted by necessitas at 4:56 PM on March 3, 2007

I agree with necessitas, general links aren't going to help her. Let's try to find something excellent and specific that meets her needs. Once we have that, we can brainstorm on the donation front.

And because I don't want to add to the noise in the green that isn't an answer; taosbat I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope we can find you what you need.
posted by quin at 5:43 PM on March 3, 2007

Thank you.
posted by taosbat at 7:40 PM on March 3, 2007

We're not looking for donations. We want to direct our donations to the best place for soldiers in similar situations.
posted by taosbat at 7:47 PM on March 3, 2007

So do we. No need for thanks. You're an inspiration.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 8:03 PM on March 3, 2007

That is just so fucked up.

I really will be grateful for good links.

I wish I could pass out.
posted by taosbat at 8:18 PM on March 3, 2007

Anyone have an opinion on this place? They claim to treat PTSD and are in New Mexico, but I've never heard of them.

taosbat, if I may ask, are we looking for a local resource, or a wider helping hand? On a larger scale, the VA seems to have good intentions, but they don't link to anything specific that I saw.
posted by quin at 10:51 PM on March 3, 2007

God, taosbat, I still can't quite seem to take it in. I am so sorry.
posted by jamjam at 8:50 AM on March 4, 2007

I can't take it in either. Hang in there. And once "we" figure out where to contribute to, rest assured that there'll be an influx.
posted by lazywhinerkid at 9:18 AM on March 4, 2007

My condolences, taosbat.
posted by brundlefly at 10:03 AM on March 4, 2007

My deepest condolences, taosbat. I'm so sorry.
posted by scody at 10:09 AM on March 4, 2007

Oh gosh, taosbat, I am so sorry. I can't help, but I'm confident you'll find the right place for his memorial fund.
posted by trip and a half at 10:35 AM on March 4, 2007

Hang in there. Life has a very good chance of getting a whole lot more liveable than it is right now, eventually. Though I say that as someone who cannot begin to comprehend the depths of your suffering.
posted by middleclasstool at 11:45 AM on March 4, 2007

.
Sorry for your loss.
posted by klangklangston at 12:53 PM on March 4, 2007

Thank you all for your kindness. We would like to find a fund that helps active-duty combat veterans get help.

Soldiers who are having trouble like Robert have strong disincentives to seek help. If the person Robert told about his 'game' had told someone, the military would have been all over Robert. It probably would have ended his career while saving his life.
posted by taosbat at 1:03 PM on March 4, 2007

.
posted by moonbird at 1:20 PM on March 4, 2007

Oh God, that's awful. Good on you for the fund idea, taosbat. We can all do with fewer suicides in our lives.
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:52 PM on March 4, 2007

I'm sorry, taosbat.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:25 PM on March 4, 2007

.
posted by theiconoclast31 at 7:23 PM on March 4, 2007

Daniel Zwerdling did a piece on NPR in early December that describes some of the disincentives taosbat is talking about. It occurred to me that Zwerdling might have run into some organizations of the type taosbat is looking for as part of his investigation. I can't find an email for him -- does anyone have a way of asking him (or the producer of the piece, Anne Hawk) in a way that keeps it low-key?

The VA has a National Center for PTSD, and it might be that someone there would know as well. Their links seem to all be to other government sites.

Taosbat, my heart goes out to you.
posted by Killick at 6:17 AM on March 5, 2007

*hugs taosbat*
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 8:19 AM on March 5, 2007

"It probably would have ended his career while saving his life."

Geez. I've been reading and hearing a lot about these disincentives lately, and I think it's terrible. Very sorry for your loss, taosbat, and I hope more dialog about this will help other families.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 8:57 AM on March 5, 2007

Here's the NPR story Killick referred to.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 8:59 AM on March 5, 2007