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One thing comes to my mind after hearing the Budget 2018 announcement to give $86 million over five years for, among other things, support to sexual assault centres located near Canadian Forces bases: were the victims of Military Sexual Trauma even consulted?
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Don't get me wrong. I am happy that the government is finally looking at our needs and stepped in. It feels good to know that the civil society is engaged with us. But who thought that this was a good idea?
Military Sexual Trauma Survivors are getting fewer services
Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) are the only ones that do not have their own support. While, injured Canadian Armed Forces members, Veterans and even their spouses are getting peer support tailored to their needs such as (OSISS), (OSISS Spouse) (ISN) and the (HOPE program), we are being referred to sexual assault groups for women in the community. These groups have very long waiting lists and do not offer what we need. The military judiciary process and the Veterans Transition process is very complex. Like any other veterans, we need experts able to help us navigate the system and inform us about available support. We shouldn`t have to rely on therapists and social workers that are completely untrained and disconnected with our needs.
A Broken Promise
According to the Third Canadian Armed Forces Progress Report on Addressing Inappropriate Sexual Behaviour ‘’Victim Needs Analysis confirmed the requirement for a peer support program for Harmful and Inappropriate Sexual Behaviour (HISB) victims and CAF research into effective models and potential frameworks has already been completed.’’ Yet the peer support program promised to be running by February 2016 is still not available. Instead, the Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis (DGMPRA) is conducting a Victim Support Study to ‘’examine the experiences MST survivors to find ways ‘’to improve the programs and services offered’’.
A Time of Great Need
Since 2015, the Canadian Armed Force is asking victims to report incidents, but is only providing them with a phone line that redirects victims to either to the military police, the Ombudsman, the Chaplain, the military base hospital or a group support outside of the military. They don`t keep in touch. They don`t manage cases. They don`t do follow ups and they don’t provide support other than active listening. Yes, victims need to be heard and informed, but they also need care and support. MST Veterans have it the worst since that phone service is not even available to them.
All injured military members and Veterans except the ones dealing with a Military Sexual Trauma can benefit from meetings with like-minded peers, information about military and veterans’ initiatives, referrals to services tailored to the military community and discuss about challenges very unique to military life such as the transition to civilian life, access to SISSIP and VAC services. Why are we not getting this type of service? Why are we being shamed away from the military view? You can't entice people to report sexual misconduct and not provide them with adequate care. That is not right.
All injured military members and Veterans except the ones dealing with a Military Sexual Trauma can benefit from meetings with like-minded peers, information about military and veterans’ initiatives, referrals to services tailored to the military community and discuss about challenges very unique to military life such as the transition to civilian life, access to SISSIP and VAC services. Why are we not getting this type of service? Why are we being shamed away from the military view? You can't entice people to report sexual misconduct and not provide them with adequate care. That is not right.
Who was consulted?
Sexual Trauma survivors have been asking for over three years to get their own peer support.
I have no idea who was consulted to go forward with this decision. I am hoping that this does not mean that MST victims will not get the much needed peer support promised by Gen Whitecross in the 2016 Canadian Armed Forces Progress Report on Addressing Inappropriate Sexual Behaviour.
I am guessing consultation can be hard since Veterans Affairs Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces are not keeping in touch with Military Sexual Trauma Survivors. My group is pretty much the only place where researchers, policy makers and program managers can find a pool of MST Survivors big enough to run any kind of consultation. For other types of injuries, peer support coordinators are usually the ones being contacted to share surveys among their peers. In our case, all requests are coming to me: one person that runs a Facebook group after working hours. That is not satisfactory. We need trained experts and trained peer support coordinators that knows our needs and how to advocate for us during consultations. Clearly, that was needed before Budget 2018 announcement.
I have no idea who was consulted to go forward with this decision. I am hoping that this does not mean that MST victims will not get the much needed peer support promised by Gen Whitecross in the 2016 Canadian Armed Forces Progress Report on Addressing Inappropriate Sexual Behaviour.
I am guessing consultation can be hard since Veterans Affairs Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces are not keeping in touch with Military Sexual Trauma Survivors. My group is pretty much the only place where researchers, policy makers and program managers can find a pool of MST Survivors big enough to run any kind of consultation. For other types of injuries, peer support coordinators are usually the ones being contacted to share surveys among their peers. In our case, all requests are coming to me: one person that runs a Facebook group after working hours. That is not satisfactory. We need trained experts and trained peer support coordinators that knows our needs and how to advocate for us during consultations. Clearly, that was needed before Budget 2018 announcement.
Positive Side
I am happy that the government is finally looking at our needs and stepped in where the Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Canada have failed. It feels good to know that the civil society is engaged with us. An armed length support might be what some might need. It`s more than what we are having now.