Thank you very much for allowing me to speak.
I looked at the wording in the format of today's gathering, which refers specifically to the obstacles to the smooth transition of veterans to civilian life. For so many hundreds and thousands of veterans, I believe there are two pertinent answers to that: first, and most importantly, appropriate diagnosis; second, stigma.
PTSD is very real. It's manageable with treatment, and the outcomes can be positive, but I believe we have an epidemic of misdiagnosis. Dave, and the majority of members who served for Canada who were exposed to the drug mefloquine and poisoned by it, have varying degrees of damage to their brains. They are acquired brain injuries, not just PTSD. The results of this are in mental and physical symptoms. Had Dave been appropriately diagnosed at the time of his release almost 20 years ago, I can only imagine how different and how much better our lives could have been. Even without appropriate treatment at that time, at least there would have been a starting point and at least there would have been an acknowledging of the underlying issue that was preventing his progress with standard treatment for PTSD.
This brings me to the point where stigma becomes a barrier. Twenty years ago I believe there was complicity in the desire to cover up the harmful effects of this drug mefloquine, beginning with the botched drug trial in Somalia, and then the subsequent order to halt the Somalia inquiry. The shame went unchecked for this group of veterans, and for the most part it continues today. Now, if it's not suppression of information and outright denial, then it certainly is such an absence of acknowledgement that you can hear the crickets singing in the silence. This feeds into stigma and creates its own impediment to successful treatment. I want this government to acknowledge the damage this drug has caused, because this trickles down to affect appropriate diagnosis by the medical community in general.
As a spouse of a veteran, my life has been seriously impacted by Dave's mental health. I have stood by feeling helpless at times as Dave behaved uncontrollably in ways that ended possible career futures for him, and this is due to his impossible, unpredictable, and seemingly spontaneous episodes of rage and anger. The best way I can describe it is it's like a parallel reality that he would slip into. I have watched him gather all of his emotional might and force himself to try again and again.
Physical symptoms, such as gut issues, were and are such a serious barrier as well. Having diarrhea greatly impacts your ability to work on a daily regime, and it impedes normal day-to-day functioning. Dizziness and vertigo is not only inconvenient, but downright dangerous in certain work situations.
And for myself, where to begin?
I must admit it's very hard for me to be here. I have given up my life and the majority of my dreams. I gave up many opportunities for careers, because I couldn't leave Dave alone with our twins for more than a couple of hours at a time. I didn't know his disability would be that impactful on my life, and that leads into my own personal sense of shame and stigma because I haven't had a career. I've tried many, and they've had to be halted at many different intervals throughout the last 15 years that we've been together. This is an outward rippling of the effect of the damage this drug has caused and how it has affected us.
I think it's time to recognize mefloquine poisoning and the resultant damage as a significant barrier to smooth transition. There is hope for members of our forces and veterans who have been impacted by exposure to this drug. There are therapies showing considerable promise that greatly reduce the mental and physical side effects of the damage from this drug.
That's all I have to say. Thank you.