Madam Chair and members of the committee, thank you for the invitation to appear today as you launch your study of suicide prevention among veterans.
I would like to begin by acknowledging the veterans, service members and families who join us today, and express condolences to those who have lost a loved one.
Suicide among veterans is not just a statistic; it is a tragedy that is felt through families, our communities and our country.
However, it should be noted that Canadian veterans, particularly younger veterans and women, face a much higher risk of suicide than the general population.
The 2024 report on suicide mortality in the Canadian Armed Forces showed that 65% of people who died by suicide had at least one mental health condition, and many had more than one. The most common conditions were addiction or substance use disorders, depressive disorders and trauma and stress‑related disorders.
The research also confirmed that veterans experience significantly higher rates of mental health issues compared to the general population. Approximately 17% of regular force veterans reported mood disorders, compared to only 6% of civilians.
What are often called operational stress injuries, or OSIs, capture the persistent challenges resulting from service. OSIs can include PTSD, depression, anxiety, trauma and moral injury, and they can disrupt daily functioning, work and social relationships.
PTSD is particularly prevalent among the veterans receiving disability benefits. More than 48,000 veterans currently receive a pension for PTSD. Since the end of Canada's mission in Afghanistan in 2014, we have observed a steady rise in these claims. Approximately 29% of veterans receiving a disability benefit for PTSD—