The 22 Push-up Challenge was created to draw attention to the fact that 22 American veterans attempt or succeed in taking their lives every day. But Canadian veterans struggle as well.
“The figures were released 2 weeks ago,” says Joe Elliott with the Royal Canadian Legion. “Thirty-five veterans including first responders have committed suicide so far this year. One is to many but, in Canada, we’ve had thirty-five.”
Today in Veterans Plaza, RCMP officers, firefighters and other first responders joined members of the Rocky Mountain Rangers, the Royal Canadian Legion and other veterans to draw attention to the effects of PTSD and high rates of suicide within their ranks by joining the 22 Push-up challenge.
Elliot says it can be challenging to get veterans to admit they need help even when there are sufficient resources available to support them.
“This is one of the reasons we’re doing what we’re doing today is to raise awareness that they’re not alone. RCMP have a horrendous record for not coming forward to get help for mental health issues because they think, ‘We’re the police, we can sort it out ourselves.’ But five RCMP have committed suicide this year alone. That’s far too many.”
“We don’t see them til it’s too late, til they’re triggered. It takes an average of 10 years for PTSD in servicemen to kick in and we’re coming up to 10 year anniversary of Afghanistan. So we need these organizations and we need more support, federally and provincially.”
He says veterans organizations like the Royal Canadian Legion are working to change that.
“They do realize it’s a problem and they’re working on it but we need more awareness, we need more money and we need more support at every level.”