Setting the Stage
Every November 11 Canadians in all parts of the country pause and remember the sacrifices of the military throughout numerous conflicts. Canadian students are taught about the exploits of our soldiers in the Boer War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War and, more recently, the war in Afghanistan. Canadians remember battles such as Vimy Ridge,Passchendaele, Dieppe, Normandy and Ortona. Students read about the bravery of Canadian troops, and the military is held up as an organization that defends our rights and freedoms. Yet through all these commendations few Canadians are aware of the long-term impact of war on military personnel.
Earlier wars and mental health
During World War I the use of new weapons, such as poison gas, and the improved use of artillery and machine guns wrecked havoc on troops. Soldiers were forced to spend days in wet trenches enduring constant bombardment. A number of soldiers developed severe mental health issues that were known as shell shock. Soldiers suffering from this condition exhibited shakes, lack of concentration and an inability to fight. At first the military accused these soldiers of trying to avoid military service and branded many of them as cowards. Little thought was given to the fact that these soldiers might be psychologically wounded.
During World War II similar cases appeared (called combat fatigue) and although there was more sympathy for these wounded soldiers, they were still looked down upon as lacking the moral and physical strength to be true soldiers.
Afghanistan war veterans
In 2001 Canada committed its military to the war in Afghanistan in response to the attacks on 9/11 in New York. For the next 11 years Canadian troops engaged in military action against the Taliban forces. 158 Canadians were killed. There were numerous wounded soldiers who returned to Canada for further medical care. As in previous wars, some soldiers began to exhibit mental health issues related to their time in an active combat zone. Not only front line troops experienced these issues but also support staff, such as doctors who had to deal with the very serious wounds suffered by our troops.
The effects of PTSD
The medical profession had studied these types of cases for decades and labelled the condition as post-traumatic stress syndrome(PTSD). The condition can surface after a traumatic event such as a car crash, a mugging, a natural disaster, childhood abuseand, we now know, combat. People who experience this trauma often relive the event and react as if they were once again involved in the action. These individuals can exhibit behaviours such as irritability, constantly being on guard, lashing out at others, difficulty sleeping or withdrawing from friends and loved ones. Depression is a common result and can even lead to suicide.
PTSD and suicide
As more Canadian troops returned home from Afghanistan, the number of PTSD cases increased. By 2011 it was becoming clear that not only did many soldiers suffer from PTSD,some could no longer adjust and committed suicide. In that year alone there were 22 reported cases.
As disturbing as these statistics are, it was not until four soldiers committed suicide in the same week that the press and general public began to ask questions not only about what causes PTSD, but also about the treatment troops can access. During the week of November 24, 2013 Warrant Officer Michael McNeil, Master Corporal William Elliott, Master Bombardier Travis Halmrast and Master Corporal Sylvain Lelièvre — all veterans of the war in Afghanistan —committed suicide.
A former general speaks out
A few days after Lelievre’s death, it was reported that Senator Roméo Dallaire, a retired lieutenant-general, crashed his car on Parliament Hill. Dallaire reported that he had not been able to sleep after hearing of the suicides and may have fallen asleep at the wheel. General Dallaire is one of the most famous examples of PTSD. He was the commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission sent to Rwanda in 1993 to attempt to stop the civil war. General Dallaire’s forces were outnumbered and he was unable to stop the mass killing of civilians. When he returned to Canada he left the military and attempted suicide four times. He has since become a strong advocate for soldiers suffering from PTSD and has pressured the government and the military to acknowledge that a crisis exists and that immediate action is required.
Canada and elsewhere
The new year unfortunately has seen the suicides continue. On January 9 the husband of retired corporal Leona MacEachern announced that his wife’s death in a car accident on December 25 was actually a suicide. She had left a note to her husband indicating she had given up hope.
PTSD is not unique to Canadian troops. The British military reported that more British troops have died by suicide than were killed in action. The United States military estimates that 11% of Afghanistan veterans and 20% of Iraqi veterans suffer from PTSD (National Institutes of Health, Winter 2009).
The government responds
Advocates for soldiers suffering from PTSD have called upon the Canadian government to increase services and assistance to these individuals. The government responded by detailing the programs that are available to the military. Returning soldiers can access programs that provide health benefits and job retraining.The programs include psychological counselling, substance abuse programs and financial advice.Veterans are also eligible for financial assistance after they have completed a rehabilitation program and are either unable to get a job or acquire a low paying job.In the 2007 federal budget, the government committed $9 million to establishing 10 clinics that provide services for injured veterans.The programs that have been established are meant to not only address veterans’ psychological injuries but also to assist families in dealing with their injured relatives.
Even with support systems available, soldiers suffering from PTSD are often embarrassed or afraid to inform their superiors. Many soldiers feel they will be stigmatized or dismissed from active duty. There have been cases where some soldiers were discharged just before they were eligible for full military pensions.
Families seek support
Not all soldiers who suffer from PTSD commit suicide. Some manage to continue working in
the military in other assignments that do not involve combat. Some, however, turn to drugs and crime to help deal with their issues. These actions not only affect the soldier but also impact family and friends. Families have seentheir sons and daughters leave for missions as confident well-trained soldiers and return a shell of their former selves. PTSD sufferers can lash out at people around them or shut themselves away refusing to interact. Families, left feeling helpless and scared, are crying out for assistance for their loved ones and themselves.
Canada officially ended its military role in Afghanistan in 2011. Yet the impact of this conflictcontinues tobe felt as many of our veterans deal with the trauma and pain of their experiences. It is clear that war has immediate effect on nations and soldiers but its long-term effects can remain for years.
News in Review∙CBC Learning∙newsinreview.cbclearning.ca / 1JANUARY 2014 — MILITARY SUICIDES IN CANADA
VIDEO REVIEW
Pre-viewing
1.Have you experienced a traumatic event that had a lasting impact on you?How did it affect you?
2.How might military training not fully prepare you for the realities of combat?
While viewing
1.Why might the military not monitor all returning soldiers for possible PTSD symptoms?
2.How does the culture of the military cause some soldiers with PTSD to hesitate in seeking assistance?
3.Why would Minister McKay be so anxious to get a report from his department regarding the incident where a soldier was charged for taking some sick days?
4.Why might some soldiers suffering from PTSD fear being released from the military?
5.What is the one area of support many soldiers would like to see adopted by the government?
Post-viewing
1.a)There are some programs being offered to veterans experiencing PTSD.Make a list of what you feel should be included in these programs to assist the veterans?
b)After you have completed your list of ideas, check the Outward Bound sitethat outlines its programs to help veterans — How did your list compare to the Outward Bound Program?
2.a)There has been some criticism of the government for not providing enough assistance to returning veterans.Develop a list of complaints mentioned in the video regarding the government’s response and then compare it to existing governmental programs.
Complaints about government inaction / Government programs for veteransPossible sources
- New Veterans Charter:
- Guide to Benefits, Programs, and Services for Canadian Armed Forces Members and their Families:
b)Are the complaints justified, or do the government programs address the complaints? If not, what should the government do to better resolve these issues?
3.a)In 2013 General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, posted a video on the Armed Forces website encouraging soldiers suffering mental health issues to seek assistance.Watch the video and identify how the general tries to use the culture of the military to encourage soldiers suffering mental health issues to seek help:
b)Keeping in mind what you have learned in this CBC News in Review report, do you feel the general’s video will be effective in dealing with PTSD sufferers? Why or why not?
4.Some soldiers suffering from PTSD have resorted to crime to deal with their mental health issues.Should they be given more lenience when it comes to convictions and sentencing?
Arguments for leniency / Arguments for imposing the same criteria on all charged with crimes5.Currently soldiers who die in combat have death benefits given to their families.Should soldiers who commit suicide due to PTSD also be given the same consideration? Why or why not?
News in Review∙CBC Learning∙newsinreview.cbclearning.ca / 1