Thank you.
Thank you very much for being here today.
When I look at your 2014 report, number 12 in your results, you focused on timely access, timely decisions, and mentioned that you didn't audit whether your decisions were appropriate or the quality of care. I'm looking on this sheet of your sticky notes this morning.
The big question here is whether you think it would be good for us as a committee to recommend an audit in those areas that you didn't audit.
As someone who doesn't have people in my own family involved in the military, when I look at the mandate to improve the seamlessness between DND and veterans, I'm beginning to learn about the culture and the reality. In some ways that very much mirrors professional athletes where you take it for the team and you have to work as a team in spite of the circumstances you're in.
I think a lot of times that's why that ask for help with mental illness takes so long, or to even recognize that they need help.
I've heard over and over again whether or not more should be done preventively or educationally to prepare our soldiers to deal with mental health issues as a possibility in circumstances where they're facing direct combat.
Years ago when I was scuba diving, I faced a very bad situation way down there and survived. I still think about it. That's nothing compared to what our veterans face in combat. We know parachutists will have trouble with their knees. Those who hit a mine or watch their friends die or face a serious injury, can we not assume they need help? Is that help there in advance? Because to me this is one of the things that's the greatest barrier in achieving the ability to transition to civilian life.