Tony Leys

tleys@dmreg.com

Friends of an Iowa veteran who committed suicide this week believe he would still be alive if he had been given timely treatment at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Des Moines.

Curtis Gearhart, 32, of Johnston was buried Thursday at the state veterans’ cemetery in Van Meter. His friends say he served two tours in Iraq with the U.S. Army, and was recently told he would have to wait several weeks for an appointment to address headaches.

Brie Lyndsey, who was a close friend of Gearhart’s, said Friday that he was an outwardly cheerful man who quietly carried troubles related to his service. “Curtis was really good at putting on a brave face,” she said. “He was just so funny. He was the funniest person I knew. If I saw him, I knew I was going to laugh.”

At times, he would seem lonely and anxious, she said. He’d told her that he had been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and she believes he’d gotten some counseling and a prescription for an anti-depressant from the VA. But he also had complained to her about the care and bureaucracy there.

His death, first reported by WHO-HD, comes amid several years of concern about veteran suicides and waiting times for care at the VA. Both of Iowa's VA hospitals have been accused in the past of denying or delaying care to veterans who then killed themselves. A Des Moines VA patient, Richard Miles, committed suicide in a park in 2015 after being seen for mental-health problems at the hospital. His family said he was turned down for inpatient care, although a federal investigation concluded he was not denied service. An Iowa City VA patient, Brandon Ketchum, committed suicide last July, shortly after a psychiatrist there told him he did not need inpatient care for a drug-abuse problem, records show. That case remains under investigation.

Gearhart's girlfriend, Valesca Steffens, told WHO that he had been suffering severe headaches, which he feared were related to a previous tumor. She said VA staff told him he would have to wait five to six weeks for an appointment.

Local VA spokeswoman Kristi Catrenich said her agency can't comment on the details of any patient's case, but she said the staff was saddened by news of Gearhart's suicide. "We are saddened to hear the news. It is never easy to hear of any veteran's passing. ... Please know that VA takes these situations very seriously."

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican and National Guard veteran, has been pushing the VA to improve its responses to veterans' needs, including mental-health issues. Her office said she has requested a formal investigation into Gearhart's death. "The loss of Curtis Gearhart is truly tragic and my prayers are with Curtis, his family and friends at this time," Ernst wrote in a statement. "We absolutely must ensure our men and women who have selflessly sacrificed in defense of our freedoms receive the quality, timely care they deserve. I am looking into what happened between the VA and Curtis, and what steps can be taken to prevent such tragedies in the future."

Lyndsey said the VA is not solely to blame for his death. “But a lot of this could have been taken care of if he’d gotten the diligent care he needed,” she said. She said his friends and family tried to support him, but he should have been receiving more professional help. “He got so over-stressed and weighed down with worries, I think he just broke,” she said.

Gearhart joined the Army after graduating from Des Moines' Lincoln High School. He was a combat engineer who spent his time in Iraq searching for hidden bombs, Lyndsey said. He had told her he was bothered by memories of seeing friends killed, but he didn’t regret joining the Army and serving in a war. “He was a very proud serviceman. He was always talking about how if he could go back again, he would.” She said that at the time of his death, he was working at an auto-body shop in Ankeny.

His survivors include two young daughters from a previous relationship. His girlfriend found out shortly after his death that she is pregnant with his third child.

Gearhart's friends have set up an account for his children at gofundme.com/curtis-gearhart-memorial. They also are planning a benefit concert in honor of the heavy-metal fan. The concert is to be held Feb. 11 at Vaudeville Mews, with all proceeds going to Gearhart’s family, Lyndsey said.

Suicide signs, counseling

Specialists say many suicides can be headed off through counseling.

Free help can be found by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, (800) 273-8255. Callers can get immediate help from a crisis specialist, and they can get referrals to local counseling. The group's website is www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Veterans also can go online and have a confidential chat at www.VeteransCrisisLine.net/chat.

Counselors say people should seek help if they see these signs in themselves or others:

Talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself.

Seeking access to guns, pills or other suicide means.

Talking or writing an unusual amount about death or dying.

Feeling hopeless or trapped.

Withdrawing from friends and family.

Feeling rage or uncontrolled anger.

Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities.

Experts also say family and friends should try to limit access to guns by people who exhibit signs of serious depression.