The question of suicide is one that we pay particular attention to. Every time there's a death in the Canadian Forces, the announcement comes across my desk, and I always pause, particularly when a suicide comes across. They tend to hit me harder than others. I often wonder how things could have gotten so bad that it was the only recourse somebody thought they had.
Traditionally—and I'll ask Colonel Bernier to follow up momentarily—the rate of suicides in the Canadian Forces has typically been well below that in the greater population in Stats Canada. I wouldn't look to debate your stats versus my stats, but we have traditionally had a lower rate of suicide than the Canadian public. For argument's sake, we have about 12 to 17 suicides per year in the Canadian Forces. Even if that number were to go up by 5, to 22, I would say it's regrettable, but it's still not indicative of a greater issue of suicide in the Canadian Forces per se. If, over time, that were to sustain itself, then I think we would have a greater issue.
But I will say the cause of suicides is a vexing issue. We look at all suicides in what we call a deep dive to see what factors could be associated with it. There is, historically, no direct link between deployments and suicides. The majority of people who die from suicide do not have a deployment history. There are other stressors in life at play, whether that be family, financial, performance, or social issues.