{{Reports from Canada indicate that another Canadian soldier has died in an apparent suicide. }}
According to Canadian media reports, the number of similar deaths has reached nine since November.
Common about the victims is that they had previously served in foreign missions including Rwanda, Somalia and Afghanistan.
The Department of National Defence (DND) confirmed late Wednesday the death of Warrant Officer Martin Mercier, who was based at the 5 Canadian Division Support Base (5 CDSB) Gagetown, N.B.
Mercier’s body was found by police on Monday at his off-base home, in Fredericton, N.B., but the DND was unable to specify the date and time of his death.
The RCMP is investigating.
Mercier joined the Canadian Forces in 1985 and served in Somalia, Rwanda and Afghanistan, a statement from the DND said.
The department did not explicitly state Mercier’s death was suicide but provided the statement in response to an inquiry by QMI Agency.
The Canadian government has been under fire for what advocates say is its unsatisfactory handling of soldiers’ mental health needs.
QMI AGENCY
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