March 15, 2012
Hon. Steven Blaney
Minister of Veterans Affairs
66 Slater
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0P4
Dear Minister Blaney,
As a national voice for social workers in Canada, the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) is writing you today to share its support for the Mood Disorder Society of Canada’s (MDSC) recently released report to government, Out of Sight, Not out of Mind.
CASW was a collaborator in the development of this highly important and timely report that focuses on the issue of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the pressing need for a national overhaul of the way this illness is handled. Currently there is an unfortunate lack of awareness surrounding PTSD, not only by the general public, but among health providers as well. It is critical that government and stakeholders work together to change this situation.
PTSD disproportionately affects the service men and women of our military and consequently the lives of their families. As Minister of Veterans Affairs and a key policy-maker within your government, CASW encourages you to read the report and work with your department as well as organizations across the country to ensure that the recommendations that the MDSC has brought forward become a reality.
CASW strongly feels that the recommendations in the Out of Sight, Not out of Mind, if made a priority of government, will make invaluable steps forward in educating front line workers and physicians, providing them with the tools they need to help those suffering from this disorder. With a small investment from government, the recommendations in this report could become a reality and provide real help to patients and their families.
All social workers are counting on your support for this important endeavour.
Respectfully,
Morel Caissie, MSW, RSW
President
Canadian Association of Social Workers
Cc: Hon. Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health Canada
Hon. Fred Horne, Alberta Minister of Health
Hon. Michael de Jong, British Columbia Minister of Health
Ms. Theresa Oswald, Manitoba Minister of Health
Hon. Susan Sullivan, Newfoundland Minister of Health
Hon. Madeleine Dubé, New Brunswick Minister of Health
Hon. Maureen MacDonald, Nova Scotia Minister of Health
Hon. Deb Matthews, Ontario Minister of Health
Hon. Doug W. Currie, Prince Edward Island Minister of Health
Hon. Yves Bolduc, Québec Minister of Health
Hon. Don McMorris, Saskatchewan Minister of Health
Mr. Tom Beaulieu, Northwest Territories Minister of Health
Hon. Keith Peterson, Nunavut Minister of Health
Hon. Doug Graham, Yukon Minister of Health
