An injured Afghan veteran who spoke out a few days ago about the poor level of health services available to troops has been ordered not to talk to the news media. But on Sunday, Corporal Steven Stoesz ignored that order and went on CTV’s Question Period.
He said mental health professionals at CFB Shilo are overworked and soldiers face a lengthy delay in getting help.“Shilo is overwhelmed,” he said.
His message is in contrast to that of the senior military officers including Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Walter Natynczyk. They had praise for both the CF/DND health care system and for the support they received from Defence Minister Peter MacKay (MacKay has been under fire in the Commons for the government’s decision to cut jobs of health professionals involved in PTSD research and suicide prevention).
The order for Stoesz not to talk to the media came around the same time as a hastily called news conference Friday afternoon, in which Natynczyk made a brief appearance with other senior officers to heap praise on MacKay and to welcome media scrutiny of the forces’ treatment of mentally damaged warriors. “It means that Canadians care about the needs and well-being of our sailors, soldiers and air men and women who have been injured,” said the nation’s top soldier. “I believe we have one of the best military health-care systems amongst our allies and are leaders in health care in this country. But we are far from perfect.”
On Question Period Stoesz, who was injured in IED blasts in Afghanistan detailed an uphill battle to get help – both physical care and mental therapy – at Shilo.
“Most of my psychological injuries are coming from not getting the proper physical care,” Stoesz said. “Since I’ve been home I’ve been fighting non-stop for my own kind of deal, and that’s just brought such a psychological toll on me that it’s been devastating to my whole life and my whole mental state. I have a battle with the medical system, and then as well one with Veterans Affairs.”
Stoesz told CTV he didn’t meet the full criteria for a PTSD diagnosis even though he has “14 out of 15″ symptoms of the disorder. ”I don’t have flashbacks from Afghanistan, or the dreams I have, I don’t particularly mind. Most of my psychological stuff comes from the fight after. I suffer depression, anxiety, paranoia, that kind of stuff, so almost everything is there for PTSD,” he said.
“I was ordered not to do this interview,” he told Question Period. “But at the end of the day, I have to live with myself, and I couldn’t live with myself not getting this info out there and making a difference.”
“This cause is more worthy than the cause in Afghanistan, and I was willing to die for the cause in Afghanistan to me, so it goes to show how much this means to me,” Stoesz said.
He said he wants to get the message out to the senior military staff that there are problems.
Veterans advocate Sean Bruyea is mobilizing folks to try to head-off any disciplinary proceedings that Stoesz may face.
Here is what he writes:
Corporal Steven Stoesz spoke out on CTV’s Question Period today (May 6). He was honest, forthright and brave in speaking out to help improve the CF and Veterans Affairs Canada systems.
He was told that he would face disciplinary measures should he appear on the show. Nevertheless, Corporal Stoesz chose to risk his own safety by speaking out to help others. His appearance today on Question Period is an inspiring reminder as to why we joined the military-to help others. It is also a sad reminder of the obstacles which stand in the way of what the military trains us to do-to help others.
That Cpl. Stoesz would be disciplined for helping others is a perversion of our military values and ethos for which CF members and veterans are so proud to have served.
I have made a personal appeal to General Natynczyk, the Chief of Defence Staff, to intervene. Such reprisals for merely helping improve the system have no place in a modern Canadian military let alone the Canadian public service (especially VAC) and Canadian society in general.
I encourage you to appeal to the CDS and/or the Minister of National Defence to halt any retribution against Steven Stoesz for what should be seen as bravery for coming forward, rather than being treated as a traitor.
We need more good people like Stoesz to speak up so that others do not suffer needlessly.
Sean Bruyea