Readers write, Oct. 16

RETURNING TROOPS

Support mental health services for veterans

I want to thank the AJC for its consistent coverage of the challenges of veterans, including suicide risk, and the effects of the government shutdown.

As a mental health counselor at a metro Atlanta county jail, I see daily the challenges of veterans — especially those of recently returning veterans. Suicide rates among veterans remain high. The Department of Veterans Affairs released the statistic in February 2013 that 22 veterans commit suicide daily. As mental health treatment continues to have a stigma attached and (can be) difficult to understand, too many veterans become incarcerated in correctional settings.

To me, the combination of veteran suicide, the government shutdown, and the Washington Navy Yard shooting exemplify the importance of tending to the unique mental health challenges of our recently returned troops. Organizations including Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Vets for Vets Foundation and the Veterans Empowerment Organization of Georgia offer excellent ways to donate time, talent and financial support for our returning soldiers as they struggle to come to terms with the mental and emotional challenges of combat.

ALEXANDRA PAJAK, ATLANTA

HEALTH CARE

But we were promised premiums would drop

I am self-employed, age 64, with a family of three. I just found out from my insurer that my premiums will go up next year by a whopping 59 percent. I went to HealthCare.gov and got quotes that were higher.

When the federal government passed the Affordable Care Act, we were told our premiums could go down by thousands per year. We were either lied to in order to gain support for this legislation — or we have a bunch of dummies leading us. Affordable health care, it is not!

Has anyone else had a similar bad experience? Is anyone else feeling like we should throw the bums out?

MARK HARRIS, JOHNS CREEK

POLITICS

No nonsense is like Democratic nonsense

In response to “Remember GOP in next House elections” (Readers write, Opinion, Oct. 14), the letter writer implores us to vote the Republicans out in the 2014 elections in order to “end the nonsense.”

If we were to take his advice and give complete control of the government to the Democratic left, I can assure you that we would then see nonsense beyond anyone’s imagination.

PETE WACHTEL, JOHNS CREEK

Bumper stickers can sum up the frustration

Where are the “Vote Out the Incumbents!” bumper stickers?