Mandatory

  The city of Ottawa lost another hero on Friday, Det. Thomas Roberts. At the age of 35, he decided that life was not worth living anymore and died by his own hand in the police station. It is a tragedy for all of us and I cannot express enough my sympathies to his family, friends, and coworkers. Unfortunately, my family has first-hand knowledge of the effects of suicide on those left behind and my heart cries for this young man's wife and infant child.

  Police officers, firefighters, military personnel, EMT's they all see the worst of humanity. On a daily basis, they are thrust into situations that human beings are not meant to deal with. Yet they go to work tomorrow and the next day, protecting us and putting our lives above their own. Now it's our turn.

  We need to press our leaders in all of these fields to make counseling mandatory. Every month perhaps and if the counselor deems it necessary making it a weekly event. And no one gets out of it. No one. You never know when or how PTSD will present itself so everyone must be taken care of. We owe them at least that.

  It will be expensive. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of people. But worth every penny if we can stop even one person from hurting themselves or someone else. All from the effects of what we, as a people, ask them to do. Surely that is worth any expense.

  Over the years I personally have seen the effects of PTSD and it's staggering how many first responders suffer from it. Being part of the military community for many years we have watched people suffer thru and finally succumb to the demons in their minds. It is heartbreaking to see. I can't imagine living through it first hand. 

  Yet over the years we have also watched people suffer and become whole again. With therapy and medication, they heal. They go on and lead productive lives. Parents, spouses, children.....it's who they were and I've seen them become those people again. It's a life long illness and they need life long treatment. 

  I hope that Det Roberts has found the peace he craved. I hope those who loved him can figure out in the days and years ahead how to make peace with what he did. And I so hope someone will make our heroes mental health a priority and we never have to experience this again.

  Ang