Fifty years ago, soldiers returning home from war who had difficulty re-integrating into society were said to be shell-shocked. These days, advancements have been made in identifying and treating what is now called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
But for one Tri-City resident, there is more work to be done.
Stu Aspinall, who has served 23 years with Coquitlam Fire and Rescue, was inspired to write a song when he read about a soldier suffering from PTSD who took his own life.
He has since recorded "Soldier Boy" and posted it on iTunes, and hopes to sell 99-cent downloads of the folk/country ballad in order to raise money for organizations that help veterans deal with mental health issues stemming from their deployment.
The lyrics, in part, are: "Didn't talk much when he got back,/ Still made us smile, always had the knack,/ We could all see the pain he held inside,/ Reached out for help, oh how he tried" and the chorus is, "Oh soldier boy, what have you seen,/ Soldier boy, where have you been."
"I think it is important now just for the awareness," Aspinall said, sitting at the piano in his Port Coquitlam home. "The numbers are staggering when you hear about soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The suicide rates are unbelievable."
Aspinall's song was inspired by the story of Cpl. Stuart Langbridge, a Canadian soldier who served in Afghanistan and Bosnia and suffered from PTSD. He lost his battle with the disorder and took his own life in 2008.
Aspinall read about the soldier in the newspaper and has since tracked down Langbridge's parents, who live on Vancouver Island. Over the summer, he and his fellow firefighters presented the parents with a copy of the song and a plaque during a quiet ceremony at the Coquitlam fire hall.
"They were blown away," he said. "They were very touched. Very appreciative. They also feel really that it is very important for us to try and continue to get awareness out there about post-traumatic stress disorder."
The effects of PTSD hit close to home in other ways, too. The disorder is common among firefighters and other emergency services workers who spend years seeing things most people do not witness in their lifetime, he said.
For emergency responders, PTSD is often the result of accumulated memories and thoughts over the course of a career. For a solider taking part in a six-month tour of duty, however, the effects are more condensed.
"Obviously, there is also a connection with us being with the fire department," he said. "Anybody in emergency services has some form of post-traumatic stress disorder."
There are several organizations Aspinall will support with the money he hopes to raise, including the Veterans Transition Program at UBC and several programs in the United States. And if people from other countries begin to download the song, he will also look overseas at other organizations.
"Now there is some help out there," he said. "It is still not enough but there are some programs out there. There needs to be more of those programs all over."
Those who wish to hear the recording should here. Those who wish to purchase a 99 cent download of the song can click here.
