In the Aftermath of the Tuscaloosa VA Healthcare System Failing a Veteran Who Died by Suicide, His Mother and Others Fight to Prevent Such a Tragedy from Happening Again

Leading to a former service member’s suicide, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Veterans (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) that began in 2023 revealed “mismanaged mental health care” as a contributing factor to his death.

The Gateway Pundit spoke to Shannon McDaniel, the proud mother of a U.S. Marine who, tragically, took his own life in 2022. She described her son as “always wanting to be a Marine” and “always wanting to serve his country.” And that’s exactly what Hunter Whitley was once excited to do as a Marine Corps infantryman.

In early 2021, Whitley was deployed to the Middle East. According to McDaniel, “He was happy to be part of something big, [seizing the opportunity] to help [the Afghan] people.” However, she admitted, “it wasn’t what he was expecting.”

“[Hunter] didn’t talk to me a lot about what all happened while he was over there, but some of what I heard was terrible,” McDaniel shared.

And on August 26, 2021, what was terrible would soon become unbearable. A suicide bombing rocked the Kabul airport, killing 13 American service members and roughly 170 Afghan civilians. “He was very close to that,” she said.

After the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, Whitley returned to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. “I could tell something was different about him,” McDaniel offered. “We noticed a lot of drinking in early 2022.” While concerned about his well-being, she was also pleased to see him take steps to continue his education at the University of Alabama.

“In Tuscaloosa,” she said, “he went to a VA hospital [in August 2022] and screened positive for a traumatic brain injury (TBI).” The following month, he would have his first mental health appointment. “The VA failed to schedule the consultation after he screened positive, [and] they should’ve done that eval before putting him on meds.”

“On September 16, Hunter saw a mental health nurse practitioner who prescribed mirtazapine and hydroxyzine,” McDaniel said, adding that “there would not be a follow up until four months later.” The nurse practitioner prescribed two months of medication with a refill for two additional months of medication. “Hunter was gone by the time she would’ve followed up with him four months later,” she lamented.

While the drugs are used to treat depression and anxiety, there are potential adverse effects to mental health to consider. Take, for example, mirtazapine, which can cause thoughts of suicide.

“While there’s a box waring for suicide in young adults,” McDaniel said, “no one discussed the medication with Hunter.” Scheduled for an appointment at the local PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) clinic on November 7, 2022, he had the chance to express his battle with suicidal thoughts, but the services rendered were inadequate.

Sadly, on the night of November 12, 2022, with an elevated level of alcohol in his system, Whitley took his life with a gunshot to the head.

McDaniel was “crushed” and “broken,” mourning the death of her son. As each day passed without him, she began to question the treatment he had received from the VA Tuscaloosa Healthcare System. “[Near the end of 2022], she said, “I had tried to contact the nurse practitioner that had prescribed the medication, but she would never get back to me.” she shared. And for the grieving mom, “That was a red flag.”

In confidence, she was approached by someone at the clinic. To her astonishment, she was told, “Tuscaloosa VA dropped the ball with Hunter, but they didn’t know who, and they didn’t give me any details.”

After finally receiving Whitley’s medical records in March 2023, McDaniel developed further suspicions. Why was he prescribed the medications he was taking? Why was his suicide screening nothing more than a five-point questionnaire?

She pressed for an investigation.

Months later, in November 2023, she was informed that the VA OIG would investigate the circumstances surrounding Whitley’s care. And in September 2024, a 53-page report was published.

Francesca Graham, who also spoke to The Gateway Pundit, is a retired Army intelligence officer and senior jumpmaster, serves as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Advisor for the Walk the Talk Foundation (WTTF). In this role, she helps clients navigate their own military whistleblower complaints. She also helps draft legislation to fix the Defense Department and Coast Guard’s administrative punishment system.

According to her, “The reason why that VA OIG report even exists is because Shannon [McDaniel] made a complaint to the VA, and tragically, Hunter’s recent suicide was a compelling enough reason for the VA OIG to conduct an investigation.”

“How many whistleblowers have come forward and raised the alarm – including, allegedly, at the Tuscaloosa VA prior to Hunter’s death, but were ignored because their story was not so compelling—that is, until someone dies?” Graham asked.

Proving McDaniel’s intuitions were correct about her son, the report determined that the VA Tuscaloosa Healthcare System had “mismanaged” his mental health care. In summary, the report revealed:

Upon reading the multiple examples of neglect and disregard uncovered in the report, McDaniel was utterly shocked, adding that “It was like losing Hunter all over again.” While the OIG offered recommendations for improvement, none of this would have been made public had she not pushed for an investigation into Hunter’s experience.

For this reason, she said, it still begs serious questions: How many more people is the VA doing this to? How many more people are being hurt by the loss of a loved one? And how many are too ashamed to speak up for losing veteran to suicide?

Graham agreed, questioning that “while the IG came back and said, yes, there are all these problems, but has anything really changed?” In her experience, IGs are “toothless” and “reliant on the integrity of the leadership they just inspected and likely criticized to correct faults—a fraught proposition.”

McDaniel and her family continue to raise awareness on the issue. To prevent stories like this from happening again, the Hunter Whitley Butterly Initiative was launched in 2023. Through the initiative, she and others advocate for support systems that help transition service members to civilian life.

Better evaluations for mental health, adherence to Veterans Health Administration (VHA) standards and recommendations, and the ability to receive community care are all good places to start, she said.

The post In the Aftermath of the Tuscaloosa VA Healthcare System Failing a Veteran Who Died by Suicide, His Mother and Others Fight to Prevent Such a Tragedy from Happening Again appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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