Good morning, Mr. Chairman and committee members. I begin by thanking you for this opportunity to address the proposed revisions to the National Defence Act, specifically paragraph 98(c).
My son, Corporal Stuart Langridge, was a recce soldier who, following deployments to Bosnia and Afghanistan, took his own life at CFB Edmonton in 2008. He was a son, a brother, a grandson and above all, someone who loved the military. He was posthumously awarded the Sacrifice Medal and his death attributed to service to Canada.
Since then, given the growing awareness of suicides of service members and veterans, our military has made great advances in recognizing the reality of operational stress injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. The chain of command has implemented programs aimed at mitigating suicides through training and messaging that medical help and support is available. There is a desired culture change from formerly held stigmatizations our servicemen and women endured.
We are part of an informal military fraternity and have heard the old mantras of, “Suck it up, buttercup”, or “We don't get PTSD; we give it”, but thankfully, they are no longer deemed appropriate. When Stu was struggling and seeking help, he commented unhappily that he too had become one of those losers. A proud solider, he felt ostracized and humiliated.
Past understandings of operational stress injury victims justified formal and informal punishments as appropriate responses. Perhaps the most tragic example of that was when, a century ago, the blunt exercise of discipline resulted in the execution of 23 Canadian soldiers. They have all since been pardoned posthumously on moral grounds, because of a realization that they too may have been suffering with OSIs.
In that context, it is disturbing that even today, under paragraph 98(c), a service member could face life imprisonment for an attempted suicide. It would be more appropriate to consider self-harm under such circumstances as being symptomatic of a serious and urgent mental health concern, and signalling the need for appropriate and immediate medical intervention. I would also note that if a forces member reaches a state of dysphoria where suicide presents as their best option, then the threat of some future discipline holds little deterrence and becomes utterly moot if they succeed.
More specifically, I believe punishment of a service member who may be suffering with OSI or other brain injury is potentially de facto abuse of a subordinate, which is contrary to the spirit of the code of service discipline. Such exercise of discipline becomes especially abhorrent if used to punish for an injury that has resulted from service to Canada.
Having said that, I clearly understand that you need to weigh that proper discipline is essential in our armed forces and provides a vital tool in guaranteeing cohesion and adherence to high standards. I would ask, however, that you please measure twice and cut once, to ensure that the results of your efforts do not provide an unintended consequence.
If attempted suicide is considered a form of punishable errant conduct, then the underlying message to victims of debilitating operational stress injuries is not that they should seek help, but rather to continue in attempting self-management to avoid legal jeopardy. It is contrary to the very programs now addressing the problems of OSI and suicide. For someone suffering with a stress injury to be punished instead of helped is like throwing a drowning man an anchor.
In the civilian world, there is no comparable legal sanction for attempted suicide, and provincial laws instead allow for emergency medical treatment. It is a mental health issue, not a crime. In our home province of British Columbia, workers' compensation has already accepted some cases of post-traumatic stress disorder as workplace injuries, and the resulting suicides have been adjudicated as fully compensable.
In the military too, I believe we should also start from a place of acceptance of an injury as bona fide until and unless there is evidence to the contrary. Any threat of being subject to prescribed discipline will deter the early seeking of medical help and will harm not only the member, but by extension, negatively impact operational readiness.
Our son Stuart struggled for a year under medical care before succumbing to his injury. At the time of his death, he had been removed from a psychiatric hospital where he sought help and was being subjected to ordered restrictions akin to defaulters discipline. We feel strongly that this quasi-discipline was a factor in his death. He was humiliated and without hope when he wrote in his farewell note that he needed to end the pain.
My husband I are now part of this informal military fraternity, and I can honestly say that of all the servicemen and women we have met, many who have injuries, I know of none who truly wants to die. They are proud of their service, and most would like to step up and continue to serve their country again.
Our sincere hope is that some good will come from Stuart's death and that positive changes regarding the treatment of victims of OSIs will form a part of his legacy. At this time, the provisions of paragraph 98(c) have become ill-suited to how Canadian patriots should be treated.
This is not a matter of politics. We are not motivated in a partisan way but view this problem as one with real casualties and fallen. The ripple effect that occurs when a member takes his own life extends beyond those immediately involved and to the larger community.
Despite the different political affiliations, I truly believe that everyone in this room wants to be part of the solution regarding the issue of suicide in the armed forces. This should be an easy issue for you to consider. It is inconceivable to me—and I think to you—that threatening a code of service offence and the possibility of life imprisonment will help ease the epidemic of suicide in the forces.
There is no benefit to leaving paragraph 98(c) in the National Defence Act, nor is there a downside to removing it. In my heart, I believe it is morally responsible. Each of us must do everything within our power to ensure that not one more person dies. Each of our men and women must feel valued and worthy of our attention in this matter. Our injured troops have earned our support, not our disdain. They are not simply disposable military assets. If the deletion of paragraph 98(c) saves even one life, your actions will be worth it.
Thank you for your efforts to effect positive change and to enhance our military.