It's been money well spent. I live in Nova Scotia, and 80% to 90% of my patients are veterans or former military. The nearest OSI clinic is in Fredericton, New Brunswick, so in my time I have only managed to get one patient there. I have another one who came to see me, and through Veterans Affairs we have worked to get him there. He lives in Cape Breton, but we managed to get him to the OSI clinic. In my time, I've had two go up to that.
There is the OTSSC. That is the occupational stress injury clinic within the military itself, and that's where they treat military members. They're excellent centres, but they have to release them. When people are released from the forces, they leave these centres. It was hoped that the OSI clinics would fill in for that, but there just aren't enough of them.
People have to travel great distances, and I can tell you that most of my patients are so stressed at the thought of travelling to New Brunswick...I've had one cancel because he couldn't deal with the drive. It was only a five-hour drive, but he couldn't handle it. When they are there, they are there for such a short time; it's usually overnight. It's so intense that they decompensate. The doctor I was dealing with over one of my patients--we had a nice little rapport--is gone now. There's not even follow-up for them. It's a one-time event.
It's probably better if you're close.