Former soldier suffering from PTSD says he got no support behind bars

Former soldier suffering from PTSD says he got no support behind bars
NATIONAL BREAKING NEWS
The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
By: The Canadian Press
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. - A British war veteran recently held in the same Alberta jail where a Canadian soldier killed himself says the justice system doesn't properly deal with people who have post-traumatic stress disorder.

John Collins, diagnosed with PTSD about six years ago, was arrested last month at his home in Lethbridge on various charges, including assault.

He said he sat alone in a cell for six days until he was released on bail.

"I mentally shut down," said Collins, 61. "I prayed to die."

"You are on automatic, back in the wars. Once the adrenalin is gone, there is no hope."

Collins believes no one took into account his mental health. He said he should have received support and instead he felt abandoned.

Then, last week, he learned about the suicide of the artillery soldier at the same Lethbridge Correctional Centre.

The man, identified by friends as Travis Halmrast, was being held on charges of domestic assault. He was found in distress at the jail and later died in hospital.

The Defence Department is looking into the death and investigations are also underway into the recent suicides of two other Canadian soldiers. All three men had served in Afghanistan.

It's not clear if any of them suffered from PTSD, but their suicides have put a spotlight on supports available for people dealing with the effects of the disorder.

Collins didn't know Halmrast and doesn't know the circumstances of his death, but has strong feelings about the case.

"He shouldn't have been there," he said. "From the moment they found out he was ex-military, alarm bells should have been ringing."
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