National Collaborative On PTSD

A call for mandatory reporting on deaths by suicide for military members and public safety personnel

CIPSRT and the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families say more data is urgently needed to address the high numbers of suicides among veterans and public safety personnel. 

Two years ago, the Government of Canada published the National Suicide Prevention Action Plan calling for active monitoring of deaths by suicide.  

In a joint statement, CIPSRT and Atlas are urging immediate progress on the Action Plan, emphasizing that better data leads to better action. Their message is clear: we cannot wait to act on suicide prevention and intervention. 

Research shows that veterans and public safety personnel are at a much higher risk of dying by suicide, and yet there is no national suicide database and no compulsory review of suicides. This data is needed now to identify risk factors and determine where resources are needed most. 

In 2025, CIPSRT and Atlas formed the National Collaborative on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. The common focus is to support veterans, military, and public safety personnel impacted by PTSD. This committee advocates across all sectors and all levels of government. 

Last year, the National Collaborative issued a joint statement on the urgent need for PTSD supports among those who serve. This year’s joint statement focuses entirely on veteran and public safety suicide and the need for more data. 

You can read this year’s joint statement here. 

Last year’s statement can be found here.