Speech (committee meeting)

{
    "time": "2008-05-06 15:45:00",
    "attribution": {
        "en": "Mrs. Mary McFadyen (Interim Ombudsman, Office of the National Defence and Canadian Forces Ombudsman, Department of National Defence)",
        "fr": ""
    },
    "content": {
        "en": "<p data-HoCid=\"1096483\" data-originallang=\"en\">Thank you. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096484\" data-originallang=\"en\">I would like to begin by thanking the committee for inviting me to testify this afternoon on the issue of health care services to Canadian Forces personnel, and in particular issues surrounding post-traumatic stress disorder.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096485\" data-originallang=\"fr\">It is a pleasure and an honor to be here today as the National Defence and Canadian Forces Interim Ombudsman. I have been following your work with great interest over the past few months.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096486\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Our work at the Office of the Ombudsman during the past six years has allowed us to see clearly that the post-traumatic stress syndrome affects a very high number of members of the Canadian Forces. Furthermore, it has very serious consequences for the families of those members in many cases.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096487\" data-originallang=\"en\">Since 2002, our office has invested a great deal of time and effort in examining the problems associated with PTSD. Over the next few minutes, I will highlight some of the key findings from our original report, as well as the progress that has been made by the department and the Canadian Forces. I will also underscore some of the areas where we feel improvement is still required.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096488\" data-originallang=\"en\">Our original investigation was conducted in 2002. It included some 200 individual interviews with CF members suffering from PTSD, their families, and members of the chain of command. The investigation produced 31 recommendations aimed at strengthening Canadian Forces leadership and improving the day-to-day lives of PTSD sufferers. The recommendations were designed to ensure proper diagnosis, improved education and training, tracking and treatment of those suffering from PTSD, as well as assistance for sufferers reintegrating into their home environments. These recommendations were the subject of a follow-up report nine months after the release of the original report. In that follow-up report, the office of the ombudsman made a commitment to continue to monitor the matter.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096489\" data-originallang=\"en\">We are now finalizing our re-examination of the original series of recommendations. We are also looking at developing new recommendations designed to take into consideration the current operational reality of the Canadian Forces. This means that we are looking at all forms of operational stress injuries, including PTSD.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096490\" data-originallang=\"en\">It is clear from our most recent review that the CF has made progress over the last few years in the way it approaches operational stress injuries, that is, in the way in which it attempts to prevent these injuries and to identify and treat those individuals with them. Unfortunately, it is also clear that the stigma associated with operational stress injuries is still pervasive at some individual military bases and among some units and that a real cultural problem still exists in some parts of Canada.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096491\" data-originallang=\"fr\">We have also found that what is missing is a function of general governance as well as strategic coordination relating to operational stress injuries.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096492\" data-originallang=\"en\">Services are being delivered at a local level and on an ad hoc basis.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096493\" data-originallang=\"fr\">This has to change. No member of the Canadian Forces should be left aside because of a lack of coordination or because of ineffective management in the Forces.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096494\" data-originallang=\"en\">Operational stress injuries also profoundly affect families. The stress of caring for and coping with a CF member suffering from PTSD can take its toll on a spouse and the family. Although we have seen progress for those in uniform suffering from operational stress injuries, the Canadian Forces have not done nearly enough to help the families of operational stress injury sufferers.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096495\" data-originallang=\"en\">Adequate services are simply not available for the family members who may need help in dealing with their very difficult circumstances. Many sufferers of operational stress injuries, including those suffering from PTSD, are concerned about the effect their illness has on those around them and want to ensure that their families are cared for. As it stands, there is no coordinated national approach that ensures timely local access to services for family members.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096496\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Family members should be treated with compassion and understanding. They should be able to get services easily for the affected member or for themselves, wherever they live. Operational realities have changed a lot in the Canadian Forces since our initial investigation of 2002. Even though we are pleased to see that progress has been made in some areas, there is more work to do, and that work is important. The Canadian Forces should continue to move forward with the implementation of our recommendations and of those of other agencies dealing with this matter.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096497\" data-originallang=\"en\">Thank you, Mr. Chair.</p>",
        "fr": "<p data-HoCid=\"1096483\" data-originallang=\"en\">Merci.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096484\" data-originallang=\"en\">Permettez-moi d'abord de remercier le comit\u00e9 de m'avoir invit\u00e9e \u00e0 t\u00e9moigner cet apr\u00e8s-midi sur les services de sant\u00e9 offerts au personnel des Forces canadiennes, en particulier dans les cas des troubles de stress post-traumatique.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096485\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Je suis heureuse et tr\u00e8s honor\u00e9e d'\u00eatre ici aujourd'hui \u00e0 titre d'ombudsman int\u00e9rimaire du minist\u00e8re de la D\u00e9fense nationale et des Forces canadiennes. C'est avec grand int\u00e9r\u00eat que j'ai suivi votre \u00e9tude au cours des derniers mois. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096486\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Le travail que le Bureau de l'ombudsman a effectu\u00e9 au cours des six derni\u00e8res ann\u00e9es nous a permis de constater clairement que le syndrome de stress post-traumatique touche un tr\u00e8s grand nombre de membres des Forces canadiennes. Il est \u00e9galement \u00e9vident que le syndrome affecte s\u00e9v\u00e8rement, dans plusieurs situations, les familles de ceux qui en souffrent. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096487\" data-originallang=\"en\">Depuis 2002, notre bureau a consacr\u00e9 beaucoup de temps et d'efforts \u00e0 examiner les probl\u00e8mes reli\u00e9s au SSPT. Permettez-moi de vous pr\u00e9senter les principales constatations de notre rapport d'origine, ainsi que les progr\u00e8s r\u00e9alis\u00e9s par le minist\u00e8re et par les Forces canadiennes. J'indiquerai ensuite les domaines dans lesquels nous pensons que d'autres am\u00e9liorations restent n\u00e9cessaires.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096488\" data-originallang=\"en\">Notre investigation a \u00e9t\u00e9 effectu\u00e9e en 2002 au moyen de quelque 200 entrevues individuelles aupr\u00e8s de membres des FC souffrant du SSPT, de membres de leurs familles et de membres de la hi\u00e9rarchie. Elle a d\u00e9bouch\u00e9 sur 31 recommandations visant \u00e0 renforcer le leadership des Forces canadiennes et \u00e0 am\u00e9liorer la vie quotidienne des personnes souffrant du SSPT. Il s'agissait d'assurer le bon diagnostic, d'am\u00e9liorer l'\u00e9ducation et la formation, de d\u00e9pister et de traiter les personnes souffrant du SSPT, et de les aider \u00e0 r\u00e9int\u00e9grer leur milieu familial. Ces recommandations ont fait l'objet d'un rapport de suivi neuf mois plus tard dans le cadre duquel l'ombudsman a pris l'engagement de continuer \u00e0 surveiller ce dossier.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096489\" data-originallang=\"en\">Nous terminons actuellement notre r\u00e9examen des recommandations d'origine et commen\u00e7ons \u00e0 formuler de nouvelles recommandations destin\u00e9es \u00e0 tenir compte de la r\u00e9alit\u00e9 op\u00e9rationnelle actuelle des Forces canadiennes. Cela veut dire que nous nous penchons sur toutes les formes de blessures reli\u00e9es au stress op\u00e9rationnel, dont le SSPT.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096490\" data-originallang=\"en\">Notre dernier examen a clairement montr\u00e9 que les FC on fait des progr\u00e8s ces derni\u00e8res ann\u00e9es dans leur prise en compte des blessures li\u00e9es au stress op\u00e9rationnel, \u00e0 la fois pour tenter de les pr\u00e9venir et pour traiter les personnes atteintes. H\u00e9las, il est \u00e9galement clair que la stigmatisation associ\u00e9e aux blessures li\u00e9es au stress op\u00e9rationnel reste tr\u00e8s r\u00e9pandue dans certaines bases militaires et parmi certaines unit\u00e9s, ce qui signifie qu'un vrai probl\u00e8me de culture existe encore dans certaines parties du Canada.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096491\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Nous avons \u00e9galement constat\u00e9 qu'il manque une fonction de gouvernance g\u00e9n\u00e9rale et de coordination strat\u00e9gique touchant les traumatismes li\u00e9s au stress op\u00e9rationnel.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096492\" data-originallang=\"en\">Les services sont dispens\u00e9s au niveau local et selon les besoins.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096493\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Cette situation doit changer. Pas un seul membre des Forces canadiennes ne devrait \u00eatre laiss\u00e9 pour compte \u00e0 cause d'une mauvaise coordination ou d'une direction inefficace de la part des Forces canadiennes.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096494\" data-originallang=\"en\">Les blessures li\u00e9es au stress op\u00e9rationnel ont de profondes r\u00e9percussions sur les familles. Le stress que suscite la prestation de soins \u00e0 un membre des FC souffrant du SSPT peut mettre fortement \u00e0 contribution les partenaires et les familles. Bien que nous ayons constat\u00e9 des progr\u00e8s pour les soldats souffrant de blessures li\u00e9es au stress op\u00e9rationnel, les Forces canadiennes sont loin d'avoir encore fait suffisamment pour aider les familles concern\u00e9es.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096495\" data-originallang=\"en\">Il n'y a tout simplement pas de services ad\u00e9quats \u00e0 l'intention des membres des familles pouvant avoir besoin d'aide dans une situation tr\u00e8s difficile. Bon nombre de personnes souffrant de blessures li\u00e9es au stress op\u00e9rationnel, y compris du SSPT, sont tr\u00e8s pr\u00e9occup\u00e9es par les r\u00e9percussions de la maladie sur leur entourage et tiennent surtout \u00e0 ce que leurs familles obtiennent de l'aide. \u00c0 l'heure actuelle, il n'existe aucune approche nationale coordonn\u00e9e pour assurer aux familles un acc\u00e8s local opportun aux services.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096496\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Les membres des familles doivent \u00eatre trait\u00e9s avec compassion et compr\u00e9hension. Ils devraient facilement \u00eatre en mesure d'obtenir des services, que ce soit pour leurs proches ou pour eux-m\u00eames, peu importe l'endroit o\u00f9 ils vivent. La r\u00e9alit\u00e9 op\u00e9rationnelle des Forces canadiennes a beaucoup chang\u00e9 depuis notre enqu\u00eate initiale en 2002. M\u00eame si nous sommes heureux de constater que des progr\u00e8s ont \u00e9t\u00e9 r\u00e9alis\u00e9s dans certains domaines, il y a encore du travail \u00e0 faire, et il s'agit d'un travail important. Les Forces canadiennes doivent continuer \u00e0 aller de l'avant dans la mise en oeuvre de nos recommandations et celles formul\u00e9es par les autres agences qui travaillent sur ce sujet.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1096497\" data-originallang=\"en\">Merci, monsieur le pr\u00e9sident.</p>"
    },
    "url": "/committees/national-defence/39-2/25/mary-mcfadyen-1/",
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    "procedural": false,
    "source_id": "2454870",
    "document_url": "/committees/national-defence/39-2/25/",
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        "document_speeches_url": "/speeches/?document=%2Fcommittees%2Fnational-defence%2F39-2%2F25%2F"
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