Marine Veteran Enrique Ramos Jr.’s battle with mental health issues brought to light following his unfortunate passing at a VA medical facility.

 New information has arisen regarding the unfortunate passing of 33-year-old Marine veteran Enrique Ramos Jr., whose body was discovered in the parking area of the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans’ Hospital located in San Antonio, Texas. As reported by local law enforcement and hospital representatives, Ramos, a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps, made a 911 call prior to taking his life on Thursday afternoon.

Ramos had been dealing with mental health issues and faced obstacles in obtaining appropriate treatment. A message he wrote before his death expressed his worries for his family, urging them not to feel guilt over his decision. “I love each of you, and there was nothing you could have done to stop this. So, I don’t want anyone to blame themselves for my death,” he penned.

Friends and coworkers conveyed their grief over his loss. Jessica Hayes, a colleague of Ramos, shared her regret about not doing more to assist him in finding help. The passing of Ramos represents the second instance of a veteran suicide at the hospital this year, highlighting persistent issues related to veteran suicide rates, which are 1.5 times greater than those of non-veterans.

A GoFundMe campaign initiated by Ramos’ relative, Maria Jimenez, shed more light on his challenges. She indicated that he experienced several misdiagnoses and was prescribed ineffective medications before discovering he had a rare autoimmune illness known as Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. “In an effort to receive the correct treatment, he tried everything possible to improve his condition,” she remarked.

Dr. Larry Miller, whose son also sadly died at the same facility earlier this year, called for immediate enhancements to the systems offering support to veterans, asserting, “We are failing our veterans.” The South Texas Veterans Health Care System confirmed that the hospital remains safe, functioning, and open while local authorities carry on with their investigation into the circumstances of Ramos’ death.

The narrative of Enrique Ramos Jr. emphasizes the continual necessity for better mental health care, resources, and accessibility for veterans confronting complex medical and psychological hurdles.