Ombudsman to probe mental health services for soldiers' kids

Ontario's ombudsman will investigatea complaint that soldiers' children are not getting the mental healthcare they need.

André Marin announced Thursday thathewill investigate a complaint that dozens of children are waiting as long as four months to be treated for conditions such as suicidal thoughts, anxiety and attention deficit disorder at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa.

"I have received a complaint alleging that children whose parents are serving in Afghanistan aren't getting access to therapy and other care," Marin said in a statement.

"While our soldiers are serving our country overseas, we want to swiftly investigate these allegations to ensure that their families here in Ontario are receiving the support that they deserve."

Greg Lubimiv, executive director ofthe Phoenix Centre, which offers mental health services to families at CFBPetawawa, said demand forthe centre'sservices from local families has skyrocketed since the soldiers were sent overseas.

At the same time, he added,federal and provincial funding has barely budged despitethe centre's requests for help.

Deborah Harrison, a University of New Brunswick professor, said Canada's significant role in Afghanistan, where 36 soldiers were killed in 2006, has increased the stress on both the troops and their families.

"It doesn't surprise me at all that there are more children in need of these services than there are services for the children," said Harrison, who has studied military family health issues for 15 years.

"We're in a new era. People's needs are greater and we're not yet at the point of recognizing that … the whole way in which military families are helped has to be completely rethought."