North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney is pressing the government to include women veterans in the development of CANMAT (Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Disorders) clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of perinatal mood, anxiety and related disorders.
Blaney, in a media release, stated that in a letter to Carolyn Bennett, federal minister of mental health and addictions, Blaney noted the guidelines will set national standards for perinatal mental health, making it vital that women veterans are included in the development of the guidelines.
“As the NDP critic for veterans affairs, I have heard from women veterans, as well as military and civilian doctors, that women veterans are not well-represented and are even invisible in research for women-specific health issues,” Blaney wrote in her letter to Bennett. “We simply do not have enough information or research on how serving in the military, combat and deployment affects the reproductive health of women serving in the military.”
Blaney has initiated a parliamentary study to learn more about the treatment of injuries and diseases that affect women in the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as the physical and mental health aspects of women veterans, the release stated. In her letter to Bennett regarding the guidelines, Blaney notes that there are significant identifiable gaps affecting the health and well-being of women serving in the military and women veterans.
“I am asking you to include women veterans in the process of creating guidelines for the treatment of perinatal mood, anxiety and related disorders,” stated Blaney in her letter. “Doing so will better enable us to ensure we are able to provide adequate support and resources for women veterans, who have bravely and selflessly risked their lives to protect Canadians.”
