I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number nine of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs.
The committee is meeting for its study on suicide prevention among veterans.
Before we welcome our witnesses, for people who are viewing, I would like to provide a warning. We will be discussing experiences related to suicide and grief. This may be triggering to viewers with similar experiences.
If you feel distressed or need help, please advise our clerk. For all witnesses and members of Parliament, it is important to recognize that these are difficult discussions. Also, for our witnesses, if you do not feel comfortable at any point, please let us know. We can pause our meeting for you.
I would like to make a few comments for the benefit of the witnesses and the members, particularly those who are attending virtually.
Please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking. For those on Zoom, click on the microphone icon to activate your mic, and please mute your microphone when you are not speaking.
For those on Zoom, at the bottom of your screen, you can select the appropriate channel for interpretation: floor, English or French. For those in the room, you can use the earpiece and select the desired channel.
I remind you that all comments by members and witnesses should be addressed through the chair.
I would now like to welcome the witnesses.
In person, we have retired corporal Christine Gauthier, whom I welcome and thank for her military service.
Also here today is Kelsie Sheren, mental resilience expert. Welcome.
You will each have five minutes for your presentation, after which we will have a period of questions for you by the members of the committee.
Ms. Gauthier, you have the floor for five minutes.