Yes, thanks. There have been very significant improvements in recent years in mental health supports for members of the Canadian Armed Forces. As you know, I think there's just a lot more awareness and, frankly, more science and detection of diagnoses about mental illness in society generally, but also in the military. I'm pleased to say that we provide mental health care through 19 primary care clinics in 16 detachments based across Canada and Europe. We've increased the number of mental health professionals, which includes clinicians and support staff. We currently have 400 full-time mental health workers and are hiring more. For comparison, there were only 229 mental health professionals in the armed forces back in 2000, so it's a substantial increase.
Canadian forces health services also meet the demand for services through a variety of mechanisms including contracting mental health care practitioners and referring military members to mental health professionals in their local community. In 2012 we announced $11.5 million in funding for mental health services, bringing the total of mental health investment to $50 million for that fiscal year, which included hiring a psychiatrist, a psychologist, mental health nurses, social workers, addictions counsellors, etc.
I've seen some of this good work myself at CFB Petawawa, for example, Garrison Petawawa. I've seen the strong support that's being provided. Now, we can always try to do more, but I think the situation's improved considerably.