National Defence committee  I'm not aware that there's any increase in the incidence of any occupational stress injury with respect to our pilot population. We don't do any specific psychological preparation other than what my colleague, Colonel Darch, mentioned. They're trained to do these specific types of missions, and they're prepared in that sense--well prepared for the missions they will be conducting.

National Defence committee  A number of procedures have been greatly improved since the Second World War. People are aware of the services they have access to on their release. There is obviously the Department of Veterans Affairs, but there is also the Centre—and this is outside of my area of responsibility—where the information is provided.

National Defence committee  Well, that depends on the diagnosis.

National Defence committee  Are you specifically referring to mental health issues?

National Defence committee  I cannot give you specific examples. I have no immediate knowledge of that, but if it were a mental health problem, he would be treated by a mental health expert. The medication would likely be an anti-depressant or anti-anxiety type of drug. Having said that, as we stated earlier, if that is the case, it is under very specific conditions and, if it has been recommended by the mental health professional, once that individual is in theatre, he will have immediate support.

National Defence committee  I cannot name a specific medication.

National Defence committee  No, we would not. We do not see patients directly. The diagnosis is made in a clinical setting.

National Defence committee  Are we talking about military personnel or people who have been released?

National Defence committee  I'll take that on. As I was trying to explain to Mr. Nadeau, when people leave the military they no longer have access. It's outside of our mandate to look after them. This is for any member who takes a release from the military. If they are injured, they will be transitioned to VAC and VAC will take over.

National Defence committee  It is not the only tool we have. I think my colleagues were very articulate in saying that we have put in many checks and balances. There's the periodic health examination every two years. There's the pre-deployment screening. There's the immediate post-deployment, if there's anything they want to report right away.

National Defence committee  Generally speaking, no. When members leave the Canadian Forces, or when they are released, they must rely on medical services provided by the province where they decided to retire to. Our mandate ends the day a member leaves the Canadian Forces. Our mandate is to provide health care services to members of the Canadian Forces.

National Defence committee  I'll wade into this one. I think the issue of denial is not at the time we diagnose a person. In most of our experience—and I'm talking as a medical officer right now—once we have diagnosed them, we try to get them access to care. What's reported as denial is people's not coming forth or not being truthful about the symptoms they're experiencing.

National Defence committee  The biennial periodic health examination does ask questions that will seek out symptoms of that.

National Defence committee  I will try to answer your question, Mr. Nadeau. Every effort is made to provide services to military personnel in the language of their choice.

National Defence committee  All Canadian Force clinics are not bilingual, but we certainly have staff…