Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you. I'd like to thank the committee for inviting me to speak today. I look forward to initiating a dialogue with you about the optimum methods of improving the health of our Canadian Forces and veterans. Canada should be proud of the efforts that have been made over the

Veterans Affairs committee  That's an excellent question. I'm one of the co-leaders of the Winnipeg site for the Mental Health Commission's homelessness project. As you're aware, the Housing First initiative of the Mental Health Commission of Canada has five cities, and part of that is a small but significa

Veterans Affairs committee  There is no study that's been done. We have a doctoral student who's doing a PhD on this issue because we couldn't find any literature. There's a lot of literature on two issues. There's literature on whether money buys happiness: if you win the lottery, does it buy happiness in

Veterans Affairs committee  On the “Life after Service” study, it's probably better if Dr. Pedlar addresses that specific question. We're addressing specific issues around that, but I think it might be better....

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you for the question. I am treating some veterans currently who have served in the Bosnia experience. I think the previous survey that was done in 1995 looked at that issue. I agree with you that before Afghanistan and before Rwanda and before Bosnia, with most of the pea

Veterans Affairs committee  I have not, no.

Veterans Affairs committee  On one other point, just like for who is going to develop cardiovascular disease, there's a huge range of things that happen—and we're just trying to understand even cardiovascular disease or cancer. These are complex illnesses that have genetic, environmental, family.... Thirty

Veterans Affairs committee  This is in a paper our group presented. At this time, I think there is some evidence that people who were exposed to physical and sexual abuse when they were young were at increased risk of mental health problems. Childhood abuse plus deployment and combat exposure had an additiv

Veterans Affairs committee  Good afternoon, everyone. I'd like to thank everyone for inviting me to speak and be a witness to the committee. I also appreciate the presentation from Dr. Bélanger and CIMVHR. I think many of the points that were raised are very similar to the things I'm going to say, and I'll

Veterans Affairs committee  I think one of the key things that is really important is that the research comes from the people. The other presenters talked about qualitative work with people. The ideas really come for me, as a clinician, from sitting with patients and families, and understanding what they're

Veterans Affairs committee  I can address that. I haven't looked recently at the other countries concerning suicide rates. I know that in the U.S., suicide rates have been going up in the military, and there has been quite a bit of concern, but I don't have an answer for you about other countries. I can loo

Veterans Affairs committee  Those studies we haven't done. This is a very important area, and going back to the previous question around the ethics and the impact of that on families, it's a huge piece. We haven't gone into that area. I'm not sure if the other researchers have. That is a very important po

Veterans Affairs committee  I would echo those comments. The transition period is really, as was said by the speakers, the important phase for the member to figure out their identity. They come from the military system, where they have access to a range of services. Trying to bridge that gap is really impor