Canada not doing enough for veterans with PTSD

PTSD Psychologists: Not enough done to assist Armed Forces personnel at Gagetown
A1By MICHAEL STAPLES
staples.michael@dailygleaner.com


Two Fredericton-based licensed psychologists are demanding an audit of patient files at the mental health clinic at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown to determine if soldiers are getting the help they need.



Robin Geneau and Joyce Belliveau, who have treated soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), will be appearing before the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence this week.

"There are just a whole lot of them who have been lost," Geneau told The Daily Gleaner. "Clients are being forced to spend long periods of time in "treatment" with unqualified staff. We hear about that mostly from spouses."

The committee will meet Thursday in Ottawa to examine health services provided to Canadian Forces personnel with an emphasis on PTSD, which can be triggered by exposure to traumatic events such as combat. The psychological condition is part of what is referred to as operational stress injuries.

Both Geneau and Belliveau believe the needs of soldiers with operational stress injuries aren't being met at the Gagetown mental health clinic.

"We have strong beliefs in what has to happen," Geneau said. "Somebody needs to go in there and do an audit of their files and identify who has received treatment and who hasn't received treatment and where the clients are at.

"They will never admit that people are falling through cracks, but we have heard these falling through cracks stories."
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