- Reaction score
- 4,166
- Points
- 1,260
This, according to the union:
This, according to The Canadian Press:
This, according to the Minister of Defence in the House of Commons during Question Period:
This, according to the Minister's latest statement:
Despite widespread concerns with the incidence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and suicide rates for members of the Canadian Forces (CF), notifications received by unions representing Department of National Defence (DND) health professionals indicate that federal budget cuts will shut down a key unit in the department that monitors mental health and contributes to suicide prevention.
(....)
The main focus of the Deployment Health Section of Canadian Forces Health Services Group is mental health surveillance. The positions which have been declared expendable include the department's most knowledgeable experts on monitoring of PTSD disorder rates and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (concussion). Mental health problems have been identified as an area of concern in the military since the Health and Lifestyle Information Survey in 2000 and the CF Supplement to the Canadian Mental Health Survey in 2002.
In addition to closing down the four-person Deployment Health Section, DND's capability to monitor the health of Canadian Forces members will be crippled by the loss of another 8 of 18 positions including epidemiologists and researchers who analyzed mental health outcomes such as depression, PTSD, mental health services, and suicide ....
This, according to The Canadian Press:
The Conservatives insisted Thursday that resources to help soldiers deal with the effects of war aren't being lost to budget cuts.
Union officials say a dozen researchers and experts who work on mental-health issues in the military have been told their jobs are on the line.
The Opposition called the cuts callous, given statistics released this week showing suicide rates among soldiers reached record high levels last year.
But Defence Department officials say no final decision has been made on those positions. Meanwhile, they're moving to increase the number of front-line personnel available to help active soldiers and veterans.
"Our government has made the decision to ensure that the positions of all front-line workers who treat ill and injured personnel are protected," Defence Minister Peter MacKay said in a statement.
"Direct patient care is not being affected in any way by recent efficiency measures." ....
This, according to the Minister of Defence in the House of Commons during Question Period:
Hon. Hedy Fry (Vancouver Centre, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the duplicity of the government knows no bounds. While its ministers spend like royalty it looks for so-called efficiencies by surreptitiously cutting programs to the most sick and vulnerable. Suicides in the Canadian Forces have almost doubled. The current government cut veteran suicide prevention programs and the specialists who treat post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD causes a lifetime of mental pain and suffering. Can the Minister of National Defence justify these callous cuts as easily as he defends his bloated perks?
Hon. Peter MacKay (Minister of National Defence, CPC): Mr. Speaker, virtually all of what the member has just said is false. We are not reducing, but are in fact increasing, the support for the Canadian Forces members, veterans and their families, as we have done consistently since taking office. We are working toward doubling the number of mental health professionals available to members. We have opened joint personnel support units across the country. We continue to work with the civilian mental health care workers in associations across the country to see that they are able to help our reservists as well as our regular force members. We are very proud of what we have done. We will continue to make those investments.
This, according to the Minister's latest statement:
“Our government is committed to ensure that we provide the best possible support for members with mental or physical illness or injuries. We have created a strong support network and a variety of programs to assist injured members, both regular and reserve. There are 378 full-time mental health professionals working with the Canadian Forces and our government is working to hire more. In fact, when compared to NATO allies, the Canadian Forces has the greatest ratio of mental health care workers to personnel.
Care is provided through 38 primary care clinics and detachments and 26 mental health clinics across Canada. Our government has invested millions in new technology and infrastructure to better support and care for our troops and has dedicated funds to further enhance these efforts in the years to come. Through this work, Canada has become a world leader in fighting the stigmatization and raising awareness of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other Operational Stress Injuries.
Our government is building on our record of caring for our ill and injured personnel. In 2010, our government announced $2 billion in enhanced allowances and benefits for Canada’s ill and injured military personnel and veterans. In that same year, we announced a $52.5 million Legacy of Care program to provide barrier-free transitional accommodations for rehabilitating personnel and their families, improve support services to those living in these accommodations, and a Canadian Forces Attendant Care Benefit to support caregivers who must sometimes relocate – and give up work – to be able to assist their loved ones.
The satellite detachment in Ottawa, and all mental health provider positions of that detachment, are being consolidated at CFB Petawawa. All personnel being treated at this facility were Petawawa-based members receiving treatment in Ottawa. Our government believes CF members are better treated where they work, train and live. This decision will significantly decrease the amount of time soldiers spend away from their families and their units as they will no longer have to travel to Ottawa for their appointments. Ill and injured personnel are still offered mental health programs at Montfort Hospital. To be clear, our decisions are based on the interests of those receiving treatment.
Our government has made the decision to ensure that the positions of all front line workers who treat ill and injured personnel are protected. Direct patient care is not being affected in any way by recent efficiency measures.
Our government will continue to build on these programs and provide the care that ill and injured personnel deserve.”