RCMP with PTSD falling through the cracks, says advocate

A mental health advocate says too many RCMP officers suffering from mental illness are falling through the cracks.

Since June,two New Brunswick RCMP officers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have committed suicide.

Cpl. Ron Francis, 43, was found dead on Monday after a very public struggle with PTSD.

Francis, a 21-year veteran who had been on medical leave from J Division, made national headlines for his stand on smoking medicinal marijuana while in uniform.

A retired 55-year-old RCMP officer from Dieppealso took his own life in June.

Jeff Morley was an RCMP officer but is now a psychologist and the founder of The Canadian Centre for Police and Emergency Services Resilience in British Columbia Hesays the list of officers committing suicide is growing too fast andthe RCMP is not doing enough to prevent similar deaths.

Although the RCMP introduceda mental health strategy earlier this year, focusing on awareness and stigma reduction, Morley worries it's not enough.

'Huge gaps'

"There's no indication of what budget's going to go with that to make sure the goals are met. There's no research being done, there's no program evaluations being done. So while it sounds good that this is what we're focusing on, I think there's huge gaps," said Morley, who served as an RCMP officer for 23 years.

"Without the research being done, and the program evaluation being done, we don't know the depth of the problems until something extremely tragic happens and hits the media like this current loss," he said, referring to Francis's death.

Across the country, 32serving and retired RCMP officers have committed suicide since 2006.

But Paul Beauchesne, the new Superintendent of the Codiac RCMP, where members have been coping with the shooting deaths of three colleagues in June, contends support is being given.

"People that need the help, are receiving the help and people are dealing with that in their own way," he said.

Some officers are also still on leave, being given the time they need to heal emotionally, Beauchesne said.