'He knew that he was sick': Relatives mourn after apparent murder-suicide
One family's tragedy in Nova Scotia has shocked the entire country.
An apparent murder-suicide has left four people dead — including a 10-year-old girl — and appears to have the horrors of Afghanistan and PTSD looming behind it.
The deceased — discovered by relatives Tuesday evening at the family home in Upper Big Tracadie — were a Canadian Forces veteran, Lionel Desmond; his wife, Shanna Desmond; their daughter, Aaliyah; and Lionel Desmond's mother.
According to Nova Scotia RCMP, Lionel Desmond appears to have shot himself, and the three others died of apparent gunshot wounds.
But family members say Desmond suffered from PTSD after returning from Afghanistan, and questions are being raised about the treatment he received.
He asked for help numerous times.- Lionel Desmond's sister-in-law
The Current's host Anna Maria Tremonti speaks with Shanna Desmond's sister, Shonda Borden, about the events leading up to this tragedy, and her brother-in-law's battle with PTSD.
Trevor Bungay, a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who works at Trauma Healing Centres, elaborates on the impact of PTSD among soldiers, and Canada's mechanisms for treating it.
"What we did in Afghanistan I would never wish on my worst enemy. The things that we saw, the things that we had to do — were horrible," says Bungay on The Current.
Listen to the full conversation at the top of this post.
This segment was produced by The Current's Sujata Berry and Network Producer Jack Julian.