Canadian soldiers hesitate on help for mental health

Really, who wouldn't be reluctant? Human nature to hide any possible weakness, soldier or no.

There is no shame in having a mental illness.. there is a stigma attached to it and the military is known to avoid this issue as much as possible.. Post traumatic stress from being in the war in Afghanistan is a major problem. those returning are not seeking help because of the stigma.. this is not a good thing. there is help.. this is absolutely not a sign of weakness in anyone.. no amount of training prepares them for the culture shock and the climate change they encounter while there..

I recall a Canadian who served with the US, retired without the requisite 20 years..Sensitive ops are not on service records sometimes... He was given a disability pension----his main complaint---"this sucks could they have said I have a limp"? Yeah there is a stigma.........

Well sasquatch . mental health is my field and specialty. I work close to a military base. In the past 3 yrs we have treated a few army personel with post truamatic stress. very difficult. They all expressed concern re stigma. I hope that with proper training and education about mental illness it will end. I tell clients that I have heart disease. I have to take several pills every day and will for life. When someone has mental health issues its the brain and its like any other part of they body.

Actually, effective training does prepare them for changes. It's proven by the numbers of those suffering from PTSD and the like. You've essentially said that we may as well just send them in cold, because it doesn't matter a bit. I don't think that that was what you're advocating.

Chumley is correct, especially with soldiers. It's not in the nature of the average troop to seek that kind of help. They're of the "I can gut it out" crowd. Then it bites 'em in the ass later.

yes well I agree with the statement. and toughing it out is one thing. living with it when you come home is something else..my dad faught is the seond world war..he was a prisoner and escaped. He had mental health issues until he died at age 76. He had flash backs and hallucinations had to have ECT treatments and experienced several nervous breakdowns. I would like to see better for our troups.

I'm not sure what you agreed with.

It's better, alot better, but it's still going to take time for it to penetrate the "tough guy" shell.

kennmore, Sorry to hear about your Dad!

It's hard to understand why their angry when they don't understand it. Blocked or what have you!

It still comes out!

It seems to be unpredictable and random.

eggshells!

I agreed with the following; Chumley is correct, especially with soldiers. It's not in the nature of the average troop to seek that kind of help. They're of the "I can gut it out" crowd. Then it bites 'em in the ass later.
The soldiersthat we treated were good people, proud of the country and proud of the mission. The brain is an amazing thing, and sometimes no matter how stoic we are it takes over and breaks us down. I dont support the war,, but I sure as hell support our troups and want them to have the best of everything and that includes mental health care..

I was talking with others on this very subject on another forum and what we came up with is this.

More and more troops are talking with their buddies, in theatre, about events that have occurred. Firefights with insurgents, IED bombings are all being discussed by troops as soon as it is safe to do so. Kenmore, if you really do work in the mental health field, you will realise that the simple act of talking about things with people that shared the experience with you, is the best medicine for preventing PTSD from developing.

That being said, some do end up suffering even after talking with other soldiers, and do end up needing to seek professional help. The stigma that used to surround those with mental health issues in the Forces is almost non-existant today. The experiences of the last 6 years in Afghanistan has helped in the way we deal with PTSD cases. The sooner we deal with someone, the sooner we can get the soldier back to work, and not end up losing them for not just the remainder of the tour but from the Forces.



Thanks, I need a new truck. 4X4 Chevy preferrably!