That's a good point.
Well, usually from my observations they get this message: “You have your pension for PTSD, George, and here's what you're entitled to, psychological support.” Then he goes to the psychologist, and the psychologist says, “Oh, they don't want to pay me. They say you need only two visits.”
I think there's confusion around helping the member. Once he's entitled, and he's had all this fight, the thing is that there should be a support person. I know
for veterans, there is the Royal Canadian Legion.
You could have the communication you were entitled to have. Many times as an RCMP doctor, I told them, “You're entitled to that.” But then they'll say, “No, no, if I go more than five times to the psychologist, they'll say I have a problem.”
So I think that it's not clear what they're entitled to, it's not clear who supports them. What we have is a liaison officer whom they can call. You know, it's an extension of an employee assistance program. If you call Veterans Affairs, you always have the wrong person at the wrong time. It's very complicated.
I'm a doctor and I have special privileges, even in the RCMP. I know what box to call. But if this box doesn't answer me, where do I go? For the poor little guy, you know.... I had one who called Gatineau; he was in Charlottetown, and it was for a simple thing.
So communication is poor. It needs to be improved. Usually where we have a process, we build it up: “Okay, George, your case manager is Ginette.” Well, he calls Ginette, and there's no specific.... If he wants a pair of shoes, it's x; if he wants psychological treatment, it's so complicated. So that's what is making life difficult.
They say to me, “Okay, I have post-traumatic stress disorder, I can be treated, I can talk about it, but every time I want something, boy!” These people, unfortunately, get upset with that. They get upset, and then they close the line. They say, “George is upset, don't speak to him”. You send him a registered letter; “George, don't call here anymore.” You know, that's part of the disease. They get dysfunctional and they don't understand what should be understandable.
So you have to make the process easier, and it's working with that easier process.