Okay. The next question is:
How do veterans evaluate the services provided in the operational stress injuries clinics setup by Veterans Affairs Canada?
There were 96 responses from our membership, of which 40% said they didn't know.
The quote was “I have never been asked to evaluate OSI set up by VAC. I've been in treatment now for more than nine years and only have been treated follow-up by the OSI doctor since October 2015.”
Many members of Veterans Canada at the OSI clinics across the country have been referred to family doctors after a two-year period. This makes the stats for the OSI clinics look good when patients are let go right after the two-year treatment period. They therefore have to fend for their own medications and treatments with their family doctors. If they relapse after the first two years, many find doctors who will prescribe medical marijuana, or else they find their own therapy through psychologists.
The next question is:
Do you think that family members of veterans suffering from mental health problems should receive psychological and financial support from Veterans Affairs Canada?
There were 115 responses, of which 93% said yes.
Here is a quote from members: “Yes. PTSD does have a toll on spouses and children like second-hand smoking.”
Here is another quote: “If the families have to provide comfort and support for their family members, I believe they should receive psychological and family support. If the individual was in an institution, their support would be paid for and the staff trained, so why not for the individual who lives with family?”
My response is that the last quote says it all.
Now, how long are we going to talk about this before we act on these replies? I believe this was in the 2008 new Veterans Charter advisory group's recommendations.
I thank you for this opportunity to speak, Mr. Chairman. Although we've been doing these committees, these reviews, and these studies for the last 10 years—not to mention all the reports that have been written—there probably haven't been more than five or ten recommendations in that time that have been put through. I hope this doesn't go unheard this time.