Looking for former SOF members dealing with PTSD/OSIs

[scoopster23]

Hi all,

My name is Lee Berthiaume and I am a journalist covering DND, the CAF and VAC for The Canadian Press.

I am currently working on a story about the unique challenges facing SOF members and their families. I have spoken to retired LGen Mike Day as well as CANSOF and officials from CMP, but was hoping someone on here would be able to tell me their own personal story. Note that I will NOT be asking for any information that may be classified or considered opsec. I am solely looking for personal experience dealing with PTSD and/or OSIs.

I can be reached at [email protected] or at 613-231-8643. Anyone who comes forward should be willing to be identified by name as well as have their picture taken for the story, which will run next weekend. 

Thank you very much.

 

[war2001v]

Not to poop on your idea or anything but you are going to have a VERY hard time finding a CANSOFCOM/former CANSOFCOM member to open up about any of his/her mental health issues and a MUCH harder time finding someone who is willing to disclose their personal information.

 

[mariomike]

For anyone interested in reading Mr. Berthiaume's reports on PTSD and OSI in the CAF,

PTSD top diagnosis for troops at risk of being forced from military: records
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ptsd-top-diagnosis-for-troops-in-danger-of-being-forced-from-military-records/article33325549/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com&
Lee Berthiaume
OTTAWA
The Canadian Press 
December 14, 2020

Feds unveil new strategy to reduce number of military, veteran suicides
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/feds-unveil-new-strategy-to-reduce-number-of-military-veteran-suicides-1.3620567
Lee Berthiaume, The Canadian Press
Thursday, October 5, 2021

More,

Lee Berthiaume PTSD in the CAF
https://www.google.ca/search?q=%22Lee+Berthiaume%22+ptsd&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-CA:IE-Address&ie=&oe=&rlz=1I7GGHP_en-GBCA592&gfe_rd=cr&dcr=0&ei=E3H4WczlMtCR8Qf74qSIDQ&gws_rd=ssl

Lee Berthiaume OSI in the CAF
https://www.google.ca/search?rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-CA%3AIE-Address&rlz=1I7GGHP_en-GBCA592&dcr=0&ei=FHL4WaLFGojTjwTb2bDACg&q=%22Lee+Berthiaume%22+osi&oq=%22Lee+Berthiaume%22+osi&gs_l=psy-ab.3..33i160k1l2.65416.68443.0.69447.7.7.0.0.0.0.159.876.0j7.7.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.7.865...0j35i39k1j0i22i30k1j0i20i263k1.0.CP0oSntc9bQ

Lee Berthiaume on Milnet.ca
https://www.google.ca/search?rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-CA%3AIE-Address&rlz=1I7GGHP_en-GBCA592&dcr=0&ei=XXL4Wb3MCeLEjwSqxZfgDA&q=site%3Aarmy.ca++%22Lee+Berthiaume%22+&oq=site%3Aarmy.ca++%22Lee+Berthiaume%22+&gs_l=psy-ab.3...330098.342540.0.343525.17.17.0.0.0.0.125.1303.15j2.17.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.jeg5yJmR7Ig

 

[Loachman]

Not to poop on your idea or anything but you are going to have a VERY hard time finding a CANSOFCOM/former CANSOFCOM member to open up about any of his/her mental health issues and a MUCH harder time finding someone who is willing to disclose their personal information.

Pardon my curiosity, but if

I'm not actually in the Canadian Forces

let alone SOFCOM, how can you state this as a fact?

 

[war2001v]

Sorry if that my statement was incorrect, again I'm not actually in the CF but I did do alot of research and went off topic quite a bit, and I stumbled onto some other documentaries and such, and I learned that they usually do not like disclosing their personal information, at least from what I inferred. It would be hard to find the sources again but I can if you want. Again, I'm not in the Canadian Forces (which I admit I should have mentioned earlier) so take this with a grain of salt.

 

[Loachman]

No, thanks, I don't need your sources. But - and I understand the desire to be helpful - please stick to posting about things within your experience.