CANADA Canadian Mounties Workers Compensation Post Traumatic Stress Disabilities Rise

Mounties Experience Rise in PTSD in Past Decade

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation,  based on RCMP statistics, reports a sharp rise in disability for post-traumatic stress disorder for Canadian Mounties in the past decade.

The report shows  162 officers requested partial or full disability for PTSD in years 2007-2008, compared to 10 officers in years 1999-2000, the last period for which complete numbers are available from the RCMP’s Statistics Directorate.

Members with PTSD:  By Year:
2007-2008: 162
2006-2007: 165
2005-2006: 208
2004-2005: 182
2003-2004: 148
2002-2003: 125
2001-2002: 52
2000-2001: 64
1999-2000: 10

The CBC reports   one officer, whose identity was withheld due to fears of reprisal, was diagnosed with PTSD three years ago. The officer claims his problems started at one of his first assignments two decades ago, saying he was traumatized at the sight of a dead woman who had been badly beaten, the officer reportedly went to his supervisor to talk about the disturbing scene he observed. According to the officer, he was told by his supervisor, “If I couldn’t deal, I was going to have to leave the RCMP because I was going to see some more of these kinds of events. It was just normal.” he noted.

The impacted officer  claims after witnessing this form of violence numerous times, he turned to alcohol and had trouble sleeping. He was eventually diagnosed with the stress disorder. Unable to work for two years, he has now returned to work on a part-time schedule.

A staff sergeant,  part of a team of senior RCMP managers investigating the issue of PTSD in the force, reports the RCMP is well aware of the problem, although the force has just started to study where it’s occurring and whom it’s impacting. (workersxzcompxzkit)

The staff sergeant said the rise in the number of officers on disability for PTSD can be attributed to the fact that there’s less stigma about having the disorder. He claims officers are more willing to come forward and address the matter than in the past.

Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: Robert_Elliott@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-553-6604.

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