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March 4th, 2014

Veterans’ families need Ottawa’s help to deal with post-traumatic stress

The family members of Canada’s veterans are in need of immediate assistance to help cope with the daily consequences of post-traumatic stress disorder, say New Democrats.

“There shouldn’t be any hesitation when it comes to helping the families of our heroes. Veterans’ families aren’t asking for much – they simply want to be treated with dignity,” said Veterans Affairs critic Peter Stoffer (Sackville—Eastern Shore).

In light of the sad wave of veteran suicides, the NDP is urging the Conservative government to recognize the important role of families and to give them the resources they need. The Veterans Ombudsman made several recommendations such as educational and counseling services for families and increased access to programs at the Military Family Resources Centre for medically released Canadian Forces members.

“The road to recovery depends on adequate support. The Conservatives need to realize they are making a mistake and provide the necessary resources to support our veterans and their families,” added deputy critic Sylvain Chicoine (Châteauguay - Saint-Constant).