Mental health therapy is being denied to many RCMP officers and Veterans.
Yes, this is happening right now.
What do you do when two weeks before Christmas you receive a call explaining that you have to find a new therapist? Find a new therapist by December 31? Having the right mental health supports is critical in moving forward in life to happiness and success. We can’t deny or change the past or what we have experienced/witnessed, we can, however with professional help find our way. I wrote WOMEN NOT WANTED to explain the value of seeking out professional help from workplace bullying, sexual harassment and other violence.
Why would this happen? Recently there was another class-action lawsuit against the RCMP for failing to provide adequate mental health care, interference with the care, intimidation, bullying and forced to return to work when they were struggling with mental health and trauma. Not only that they were bullied, intimidated their careers were stalled, but they were also shamed and in many cases sent back without adequate mental health care and ongoing support to fully recover before they return to work. This smacks of retribution.
Unexpectedly, this was my experience. I received a phone call from Veterans Affairs to say that my provider whom I have been seeing for a couple of years was no longer ‘on the list of people to provide counselling’ to RCMP members and Veterans. Therapy works when people are willing to do the work.
No reason was given, the caller was unable to provide any information as to why,
no reason on the grounds to this abrupt cut in wonderful service. Clearly, this was something very distressing. I realized this was less about me and more about the fact that other people who may be struggling with PTSD, trauma and depression from work-related events may not have the coping skills to recover. Not everyone is comfortable with therapy and taking the leap of faith in trusting a stranger with your deep emotional wounds and trauma is scary. Being vulnerable is scary for many people.
This is why it is dangerous to suddenly announce the therapist has to change immediately. Not everyone has good coping skills and can reach out again. My concern is many officers and Veterans will not go back into therapy and to me, that is the real tragedy. Their mental health is going to suffer. Their families’ careers for those serving, and the ripple effect of depression, fear, anxiety and trauma eventually spill into all aspects of their lives (if the trauma, depression has not already done serious damage). There is the potential we could lose someone to suicide in the next few weeks or shortly thereafter because they don’t feel like they have a safe place, a safe person to share their pain and navigate through the trauma and depression.
In my email to several national tv media, MP’s, and Commissioner Luckie:
You may be surprised by this Class Actin Lawsuit, I am disappointed but not surprised. This is a new class action lawsuit dealing with the failure of the RCMP Health Services to take care necessary steps, follow policy, create a safe workplace of those dealing with mental health, trauma and (OSI) Operational Stress Injuries.
The interference of the RCMP, ’culture of silence’, stigma, and influence by senior ranks to either pressure officers back to work or out of the Force. RCMP Health Services staff interfere and dictate the treatment of members while being Agents for the RCMP. This is a conflict of interest and is illegal —– Unless this illegal practice stops, members’ mental health will continue to be further compromised at the hands of their employer. I know from my own experience this is the reality for many officers who are trying to survive serving Canadians. To be mocked and ridiculed for seeking mental health support leaves victims in their own silent shame and isolated horror.
An emotional wound, that we cannot see, needs the same attention as any other wound.
Sadly suicide, family breakdown, self-destructive behaviours and other addiction issues result when officers are not given the opportunity to seek the mental health needed.
I find this coincidental with the removal of a mental health provider who has many serving RCMP officers and Veterans. The current workplace culture has not been accepting of members who are seeking mental health assistance from incidents and events they are working.
From Dr. Gabor Mate,
“Trauma is a psychic wound that hardens you psychologically that then interferes with your ability to grow and develop. It pains you and now you’re acting out of pain. It induces fear and now you’re acting out of fear. Trauma is not what happens to you, it’s what happens inside you as a result of what happened to you.”
The optics is not good for both the RCMP D Division HSO and Veterans Affairs.
It is about the mental health of people, people who are out there to serve and protect us. But who is protecting them from the trauma of the job? Who? Why do we as a society continue to put mental health on the back burner like somehow things will get better. Well, let me tell you they do not get better without professional mental health help. I would not be here today without self-care tools and strategies, a positive attitude, courage to speak up and the support of professional help from the very mental health provider the Veterans Affairs office is trying to take away from Veterans and other current RCMP officers.
This is taking a back burner again to COVID and all the other issues that the media deems newsworthy. Which is sad.
Clearly, if no one says anything nothing changes and we have more victims this is less about me and more about those who will not speak up, or afraid to speak up, and who are struggling. It takes for my courage to go for therapy and to have someone suddenly taking away whom you have started to trust and share your pain, which is devastating. And many will not return. The cost is dear this is an unethical and dangerous decision.
No matter what happens I will manage to find another therapist. But not everyone is going to feel so lucky.
Ask yourself what would you do? If no one says anything then nothing changes. Speak up and make your voice count for those who remain under the shadows of despair in dealing with their mental health as RCMP officers and Veterans.
I cannot control events around me and the impact on my emotional well-being, what I do have control over is the power of my voice to which is to speak up, to stand up and write up to create ripples in the sea of indifference. I speak up for those who remain silent.
Every life matters!
https://wagners.co/practice-areas/class-actions/rcmp-operational-stress-injuries/