Do they need more help and how can we find it?

There was fear of stigma being attached. That, if you did put your hand up and ask for help, how would this be viewed by your colleagues? What notes would be kept on your personnel file? Would this be seen as a weakness? Even, detrimental to your career? - RCMP Veteran

It can be hard for Veterans to reach out for professional support because of their training and the service culture. They may see their vulnerability and their feelings as shameful or “weak”. It’s important to let them know that you trust them to do what’s best for themselves, but sometimes it can also be important to gently and sensitively suggest they reach out for professional help.

I’d promised myself I wasn’t going to push him or judge him. But I had to do something. So, one day, before I left for work, I sat down next to him on his bed roll. I remember saying, “Look, I don’t know what’ll help, but I’m gonna leave these here for you to look at.” I handed him his phone and a few papers with phone numbers and descriptions of Veteran support services. “Whenever you’re ready. See you tonight.” That was it. - Family Member

Ask for help. That’s good advice. But I compare it to throwing a life ring to somebody who’s drowning and yelling, “Grab it! Grab it!” If the person is incapable, you have to actually get out there and put them in it. When your brain is that down or far gone, you don’t even know necessarily what any of those statements mean. And that’s sort of where I was at. Sometimes people need you to actually push them into taking care of their mental health and they need more instruction. - RCMP Veteran