Live Chat

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Q & A

Four soldier suicides in less than a week have turned national attention to the issue of post-traumatic stress disorder and mental health supports for soldiers and veterans. Capt. Wayne Johnston, founder of Wounded Warriors, and LCol. Chris Linford, a peer counsellor, will host a live question and answer session Wednesday Dec. 11 at noon ET. If you or a family member have experienced PTSD or if you have questions about support services for Canadian soldiers and veterans, we hope you’ll join the conversation.

3rd & 7 37yd

Hello everyone, welcome to our live chat Q & A. I'm a digital news producer at CTVNews.ca.

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 12/11/2013 5:00:33 PM
Good after noon all Capt Wayne Johnston here

by wayne 12/11/2013 5:00:49 PM
Hi Wayne - thanks for joining us.

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 12/11/2013 5:01:08 PM
We're also joined by Chris Linford. Chris?

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 12/11/2013 5:01:42 PM
Before we get underway, Wayne - can you tell us a bit about yourself?

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 12/11/2013 5:02:59 PM
I can get things rolling with the following thought without finamncial health how can one work one mental health. By this I mean the New Vets charter has far reaching results. Facing certain unemployment troops need the security of athe trad monthly VAC pension

by wayne 12/11/2013 5:03:52 PM
Thx Wayne.

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 12/11/2013 5:04:35 PM
First question:

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 12/11/2013 5:04:42 PM
What resources are available for families of soldiers and vets...when it is the family member that has experiences vicarious PTSD because of the military members PTSD??

by nicole taylor 12/11/2013 5:04:44 PM
41 yrs in the CF facing a med release fdr Wounded Warriors Canada, past Repat Officer been in Cas Mgt since 06

by wayne 12/11/2013 5:05:00 PM
There are reasonable resources that said geo dependant ie Petawawa is very busy

by wayne 12/11/2013 5:06:04 PM
are there any examples of these resources??

by nicole taylor 12/11/2013 5:06:33 PM
Fam Resource Centres Call in help lines OSSIS that said there is a real lack of trust with the troops

by wayne 12/11/2013 5:07:42 PM
Good afternoon all, Mercedes here!

by mercedes.stephenson 12/11/2013 5:07:43 PM
Wayne - in your experience, what can be the biggest obstacle to seeking help?

by Cynthia Vukets 12/11/2013 5:08:03 PM
Editor's note: Questions are added one by one (for every Q answered, a new one goes in). There are already a few waiting in the queue

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 12/11/2013 5:08:49 PM
STIGMA in a word I was asked to leave my res unit because I was so open on MH

by wayne 12/11/2013 5:09:22 PM
what does resonable resources mean? Especially with a spouse has vicarious PTSD?

by nicole taylor 12/11/2013 5:09:43 PM
Nicole - that is an important point. PTSD does not just affect the person who has returned home, it has an impact on the entire family.

by mercedes.stephenson 12/11/2013 5:10:52 PM
Spouses can reach out to family resource centres again there is the Stigma issue also not wanting to out there loved one. We need a arms length system the troops and family trust

by wayne 12/11/2013 5:11:35 PM
how is this treated in the military with spouses and kids that have PTSD ?

by nicole taylor 12/11/2013 5:11:51 PM
Is Wounded Warriors part of the CF or its own entity? Sorry for my ignorance

by Sheepdog1 12/11/2013 5:12:00 PM
While i know this is Q and A can i post a thought to help families cope with this/

by wayne 12/11/2013 5:12:25 PM
Howdy I am finally here!

by Chris Linford 12/11/2013 5:12:43 PM
With the stigma that is still attached to PTSD. What can I expect

by dmvjet@yahoo.ca 12/11/2013 5:13:15 PM
But what can that be, how can families be helped?

by dmvjet@yahoo.ca 12/11/2013 5:13:51 PM
a help line ? and then what happens to the spouse??

by nicole taylor 12/11/2013 5:13:52 PM
I am not suggesting we hold on to them I am suggesting security and dignity

by wayne 12/11/2013 5:44:29 PM
Thanks everyone for participating. Our live chats usually run 30 minutes but this one has been very popular.

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 12/11/2013 5:44:45 PM
Sad that we need charity

by wayne 12/11/2013 5:44:46 PM
Chris, Wayne, Mercedes - last thoughts and any links/resources you'd like to put here?

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 12/11/2013 5:45:09 PM
No I'm not saying its a perfect system It needs to be flexible to account for the best interest of the troops and this is where it struggles at times.

by Chris Linford 12/11/2013 5:45:18 PM
PTSD is extremely serious with a great ripple effect. I am pleased there is more awareness regarding this issue. Bless all of you - none of you deserve to be left out of crucial services which could help you, and, none of you should have your careers terminated because of PTSD unless you choose to leave it. We, meaning, ordinary people like myself who live in Canada and appreciate all you do, stand behind your struggles and support your needs 100%.

by Ames 12/11/2013 5:45:24 PM
let us all take another moment to send a message to our existing OSI and MFRC services to thank them because they need support too

by shelley 12/11/2013 5:45:26 PM
This is an issue we plan to stay on top of at CTV, so we would love to continue to hear from vets, soldiers and family members about your experiences and your needs.

by mercedes.stephenson 12/11/2013 5:45:48 PM
Families are also casualties severe like their loved one

by wayne 12/11/2013 5:46:07 PM
veterans Transition Program, Outward Bound veterans program and Soldier On can be a great place to go if you are looking for the next level of healing involving peer related activities. Did wonders for me!

by Chris Linford 12/11/2013 5:46:23 PM
Thanks for the opportunity to participate in this activity.

by Chris Linford 12/11/2013 5:47:52 PM
irunandrock.ca

by irunandrock.ca 12/11/2013 5:48:26 PM
Wayne, Chris, Mercedes & everyone who joined online - thank you for participating and joining the conversation.

by Maurice Cacho (CTV News) 12/11/2013 5:48:29 PM

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