More soldiers have died of suicides since 2002 than in combat in Afghanistan says Canada's Official Opposition NDP party criticizing the government for not dealing with a mental health crisis in the miltary.
Photo Credit: Murray Brewster/CP

More Canadian soldier suicides than died in Afghanistan combat

More Canadian soldiers have died of suicide since 2002 than died in combat in Afghanistan, and that shows how badly the Canadian government is handling the mental health of its troops, said the Official Opposition NDP party in the House of Commons on Tuesday (September 16).

“Mr. Speaker, more soldiers have been lost to suicide since 2002 than died in combat in Afghanistan. According to National Defence statistics, 178 soldiers have committed suicide since 2002.That is right, 178, ” said Official Opposition MP Élaine Michaud. “It is obvious that the Conservative government has abandoned our soldiers, our veterans and their caregivers.

Defence Minister Rob Nicholson denied the charge “that certainly is not the case.”

Adding: “I have to say that our thoughts and prayers are with the families who are dealing with the loss of their loved ones. That being said, we have increased our investment in mental health services. There are now approximately 450 full-time mental health care workers. This gives us one of the highest ratios of mental health professionals to soldiers in NATO. We will continue to get the job done for our men and women in uniform.”

The number of Canadian soldiers killed in combat during Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan was 138.

More information:
Hansard Commons Debate – September 16, 2014 – here
Toronto Star – Suicide claims more soldiers than those killed by Afghan combat – here
Defence Ministry statistics – Suicide and suicide prevention in the Canadian Armed Forces – here
Defence Ministry statistics – Canadian Forces’ Casualty Statistics (Afghanistan) – here

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