In one of the families that did seek support, he was diagnosed before he was discharged from the military. He was on the submarine that caught on fire, so he was part of that. They figured part of the reason his diagnosis happened so quickly was because he took part in a very publicized event.
He was involved in peer support, which he found very helpful, and because he was involved in peer support, she had access to support for herself through the Halifax trauma treatment centre. They were local, so they lived right in Halifax and it was easy for them to access support. She took part in a program run by two of the social workers at the Halifax trauma treatment for the wives of military men and veterans diagnosed with PTSD, and she really felt that this was her saving grace. It was the place that was her touchstone, where she was able to go and ask “Is this me, or is this him? Am I being unreasonable, or is this unreasonable behaviour on his part?” It was a six-week program that she went through, and she found it immensely helpful. They also left the door open when she finished the program so that if at any time she felt she needed to come back to gain support again she was welcome to do that. I think that would need to be replicated where those rural women are, and to be more widely known.
One of my frustrations was the only way she could access that support was because her husband was actively engaged in seeking support. She had to get a referral from his therapist in order to take part in that group. Because her husband was open enough to seek support, she was able to get support. But if he hadn't been open, that door would have been closed to her.