OTTAWA, ON — Today, Todd Doherty, Member of Parliament for Cariboo-Prince George, issued the following statement regarding his new Private Members Bill, Bill C-425, Act to establish Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day:
“Today, on Bell Lets Talk Day, parliamentarians will join Canadians across the country to increase awareness of mental health issues and offer our support to those who persevere every day and work to end the stigma around mental illness.
“I couldn’t think of a better day to introduce my Private Members Bill, Bill C-425, which seeks to make June 27th a National PTSD Awareness Day.
“The brave men and women who serve our country and our citizens often endure life-altering events that leave them with deep emotional and psychological scars. They serve with courage and distinction, but their service often means they are left to deal with haunting images, sounds and smells for a lifetime.
“It also builds off of the Private Members Bill I worked to pass last year, Bill, C-211, An act respecting a federal framework on post-traumatic stress disorder, which requires the government to develop a comprehensive federal framework to address the challenges of recognizing the symptoms and providing timely diagnosis and treatment of PTSD.
“Mental illness should not be a partisan issue. I sincerely hope that all parliamentarians vote to unanimously pass this Bill.
“Conservatives will continue to stand up for those who have served Canada and their communities and who as a result suffer from PTSD. We will continue to call on the Trudeau government to put politics aside and move swiftly to recognize PTSD sufferers in Canada.”
