Three veterans who served Canada in the former Yugoslavia—Steve Hartwig, Jason McKenzie, and Scott McIntyre McFarlane—have marched across the country to raise awareness of PTSD

When Steve Hartwig, Jason McKenzie and Scott McFarlane arrived in Antigonish, Nova Scotia on September 7, they paused at the downtown cenotaph honouring fallen soldiers from World War I. They were close to reaching the end of their march across Canada to raise awareness of PTSD among Canada’s veterans.

In WWI, the psychological distress of soldiers was attributed to concussions caused by the impact of shells; this impact was believed to disrupt the brain and cause “shell shock” (Bentley, 2005). Now, in 2014, there is greater understanding of what is called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder—but education and awareness is still lacking.

Hartwig, McKenzie, and McIntyre McFarlane, who are now retired Canadian Forces corporals, also have – and continue to – wage their own battles with PTSD. Each was diagnosed in the early 1990s after returning from a tour of duty in the former Yugoslavia. The goal of the awareness-raising march was “to shine a spotlight onto the care received by the men and women who serve in frontline positions in the military, law enforcement, fire and ambulance. PTSD is not a sickness or a disease. It is the result of being exposed to trauma.”

“We have had the opportunity to meet thousands of people. We are in communication via text, message and email with thousands of people who have PTSD,” Steve Hartwig told the Antigonish Casket. “I think our nation is really ready to take a really good, long hard look at how we can improve PTSD care and treatment, and the open dialogue between the individuals and the organizations and the government – that’s our main focus.”

We first met Jason McKenzie on People First Radio in July 2014 when we spoke with him about the awareness march, which was called Into No Man’s Land. Now we speak with Jason McKenzie and Steve Hartwig again–just after their arrival in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

We speak with Jason McKenzie and Steve Hartwig.

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Image by Corey LeBlanc, The Casket

RELATED | Toronto Star: Canada’s military is under pressure to do more to look after the mental health of its soldiers after new statistics show the armed forces have lost more personnel to suicide than those killed in combat in Afghanistan (Sept. 17, 2014) |