The Fifth Estate - Broken Heroes 1/3

In Broken Heroes, Gillian Findlay introduces us to three Canadian soldiers, recently returned from Afghanistan: Jeff, Matt and Dave. All three speak candidly about the hell that now consumes their lives: flashbacks hurtling them back to the danger of the war zone, grief for dead comrades, their ongoing battles with addiction, even suicide attempts.

PTSD is not a new phenomenon. In the First World War, it was called "shell shock", never really understood, and never adequately dealt with. But, the urgency to find a treatment has never been greater. By the time Canada's combat mission in Afghanistan is over in 2011, 35,000 Canadian men and women will have served there. Using the military's own arguably conservative estimate, as many as 2,000 of those could be coming home with PTSD.

What Canada's military knows about PTSD comes largely from General Romeo Dallaire's very public personal story. After witnessing the Rwandan genocide, Dallaire returned to Canada, consumed by what he had seen and what he felt he had not done. He tells Gillian Findlay that he attempted suicide four times. Now a Senator, Dallaire argues that military suicides should be recorded as any other casualty and criticizes Canada's armed forces command for not doing enough to help.

Canada's Chief of Defence Staff, General Walter Natynchuk, acknowledges that more could have been done in the past for soldiers suffering from PTSD and says that it is now one of his highest priorities.

There's no easy answer, but one thing is clear: Canada's true casualty rate won't be known until long after the fighting has stopped.

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• war
• veterans
• ptsd
• Iraq
• Afghanistan
• military
• suicide
• army
• navy
• marine
• drug
• addiction
• Canada
• soldiers
• forces
• air
• marines

[GlendaJuneFoster]

For PTSD do Reiki as it will help to lift this out of the body..Glenda Foster 705-745-7652

[musicstirsthesoul]

Breaks my heart to be constantly reminded how we have failed to fully support our brave service people. Know you ARE LOVED, WORTHY, PRECIOUS and hold on tight to that hope that there is more help coming. I wish you true inner peace; please hang on, use whatever strength you have until that time comes. Peace be with you. xoxo<3

[Marty2475]

Not just Afghanistan. I am finally coming to terms with my own PTSD. I served Canada in Haiti and Africa, as well as with swiss air 111. Please help the troops out, wherever they served!