Video by Alexandra Holyke
By Sabrina Scroppo
Approximately one of every five Canadian veterans endure serious mental health issues as a result from serving in the military, according to Veterans Affairs Canada.
While these individuals risk their lives to protect their country, a stigma surrounding mental health in the military continues to neglect providing those affected with appropriate assistance and attention to cope with the resulting illness.
Depression, anxiety disorders, and PTSD are among those stress injuries veterans battle. Since the first world war, more light has been shed on this important issue moving the conversation around mental health in a positive direction.
Veterans and PTSD, no new concept
“Ideas of shellshock was equated with cowardice…PTSD is now equated as a medical condition in need of support,” says Robert Whitley, assistant professor at McGill University. Shellshock– is a term coined to describe the mental trauma veterans suffered from returning from war.
Where methods of shock therapy were used to combat the illness, victims are now given more resources and techniques to help. Assistant professor at Charleston Southern University, Kate Kendricks Thomas works to implement self care practises and nervous system regulations in order to prevent these instances from getting worse.
However, veterans still face certain barriers when reaching out for support and integrating back into society.
Prevention measures taken over therapy and support
According to the National Council for Behavioral Health, less than half of returning veterans in the United States receive any mental health treatment while in recovery. Experts put their efforts towards creating prevention tactics in active duty training, opposed to finding veterans help after the fact.
Although resources are in place and considered an upgrade from the past, it is agreed upon that more can be done to eliminate the stigma around mental health in the military.
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