When we launched the “Be the Difference” campaign in 2009, we had five people come forward, very courageous people who had suffered depression, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and operational stress injuries, and stand up in a public forum to say, “I was there. I was in my basement. I couldn't get out of my basement. I didn't want to have any contact with my family. I was having dark thoughts, got into treatment, and came out the other side.” They put their hands up publicly and said, “Hey, I've been there. I've come out the other side. I'm okay. And I'm fully functioning.” By and large, with few exceptions, I would submit that the rank and file never offered any indication how badly those people were suffering. And those people came forward. Some of them were privates; some were majors who come forward. They are really poster children for the ability to put your hand up, get treated, and move on with your career.
I've also had several people, senior officers, come and express things to me. These are extremely high-performing people who opened up to me to say, “I was in a dark place. I almost wanted to jump off the bridge, the MacKay Bridge or the Macdonald Bridge, I got help, and got what I needed. What can I do now, sir, to be able to go out and help people?” They volunteer to be peer counsellors or peer support to help people get the help they need.