Ottawa to tackle military suicides

Cabinet ministers, top soldier on board with campaign to address mental health

OTTAWA— The federal government is promising new research and funding, more health professionals and the attention of cabinet ministers and the country’s top soldier, all in a bid to prevent military personnel and veterans from taking their lives.

The departments of defence and veterans affairs on Thursday unveiled a joint suicide-prevention strategy, which brings many programs together as a part of a concerted effort to save lives.

The presence of three cabinet ministers, Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Sherry Romanado, parliamentary secretary to the veterans affairs minister, underscored the political muscle now attached to the issue. “This strategy is an approach that we have not seen before,” O’Regan said.

Between1995 and 2014, 225 regular force men and 13 regular force women took their own lives, according to a2015 report. The report found those in the army, who bore the brunt of the long Afghan mission, appeared at greater risk of suicide than personnel in other commands.

The government is in the dark about suicides among veterans, but is trying to change that with research now underway by Statistics Canada. The data could be ready in December and the results could help officials direct resources better.

“Our target is to eliminate the phenomenon of suicide in the armed forces and veterans . . . we cannot approach this with any other target in mind,” said Gen. Jonathan Vance, the chief of defence staff.