Evidence of meeting #28 for Veterans Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was treatment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Colin Fraser Liberal West Nova, NS
You mentioned that when you sought treatment, it slowed down your depression and anger.
Veteran, As an Individual
Well, what I did is I escaped. I used the sun to get rid of the depression. I used my intake of food to get rid of my diabetes and heal my stomach. I lost so much weight; I melted over there, actually.
Veteran, As an Individual
I was 127 kilograms, and right now I'm at 86. I was very overweight from the pills and depression, etc.
I'm sorry, but where am I going now?
Veteran, As an Individual
Yes, I went through it naturally. I used the natural way to slow my issues. But now, here in the city, I tend to lock myself in—
Veteran, As an Individual
—at home. I bunker. The medication that I'm using has a stigma. I got locked away. I went to provincial court just to settle for a pension with my ex. When asked, I showed my ID, showed the package, and showed what it's packaged for, with the prescription on the side. They still slapped the handcuffs on me.
Liberal
Veteran, As an Individual
Oh, yes. It came close. There were two of them. I got excited and turned around, and there were eight more. So I kind of put my hands on the back of my head because I didn't want to create an incident. But they locked me up and they put me downstairs. Because I was aggressive, I was locked up for two hours with handcuffs behind my back.
Liberal
Colin Fraser Liberal West Nova, NS
Okay. Thanks, Claude.
I'm going to turn now to Mr. Eyolfson, and he'll split my time.
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Okay, thank you.
Claude, you were telling me what you need, and what, hopefully, we can help you find. I'll just continue that line of questioning with Dave.
First of all, are you at this point accessing Veterans Affairs' services?
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
All right. Do you find that they're sufficient for you? What else could they be doing for you that you need?
Veteran, As an Individual
They're not sufficient. Currently, I'm doing one day a week of learning neurofeedback, alternated with a week of psychotherapy, just to work on anger management issues and stuff like that. However, I would love to be able to attend an in-patient treatment program for an acquired brain injury, so that I can learn everything there is to know about this. Then I could develop the skills myself to actually be able to secure a job again and provide for my family.
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
All right, thank you.
I'll ask the same question to Brandon. I assume you are receiving benefits from Veterans Affairs right now?
Veteran, As an Individual
Well, actually, I get mine from SISIP, since I'm newly released, but they almost overlap each other. I am engaged with my Veterans Affairs case manager, but our hands are tied at the federal level because of the non-validation of the injury from mefloquine and the lack of any knowledge about it. Basically, they're just pushing me through, not really knowing what to do, either. I have to go in and explain to them the science and everything behind this stuff, and give them the information. It's like me educating them on how to treat me.
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
All right, thank you.
John, are you currently receiving—
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Would you say that what you're receiving now is sufficient? If not, what would you say would improve it for you?
Advocate, International Mefloquine Veterans’ Alliance
What would improve what, exactly?
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Are the services you're receiving sufficient and if they're not—
Advocate, International Mefloquine Veterans’ Alliance
Do you mean financial or administrative?
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Either. Just whatever help you're receiving. Is the help at any level sufficient—
