Re: “Afghan-related military suicide spike might be receding,” April 17.
After a long list of studies by the medical branch of the Canadian Forces, officials have come to the conclusion that service members and veterans remain at high risk to take their own lives.
Other reports concluded that the numbers are in decline.
Yet a report signed by Surgeon General Brig.-Gen. Andrew Downes suggests that full-time male soldiers remain at “significantly increased risk.”
Many costly studies were done between 1976 and 2012 to come to the “not surprising” conclusion that the risk of suicide among male veterans remains 36 per cent higher than in men who never served in the Canadian military.
Respect is due to the efforts being made through the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist the service members. And to the veterans who completed their careers or retired earlier because of the tremendous pressure and stress of multiple deployments in war-stricken countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, etc.
It comes to mind, however, that behind most of the service members suffering with PTSD, there is a spouse or significant other, even children, who are suffering, as well.
I suggest that a “short” study should be done on how these partners and children could be helped, financially or otherwise, with the furtherance of their lives.
Cornelis Schenk
Victoria
