Ontario's attorney general, Yasir Naqvi, vows action on jurors with PTSD

Ontario's Attorney General Yasir Naqvi is looking to improve supportfor jurors traumatized by grisly evidence in trials, after CBC Toronto told the story of a jury member paying for his own counsellingto cope with post traumatic stress disorder(PTSD).

Currently, the province only covers the costs of psychological counselling for jurors if it is ordered by a judge during a trial.

"I'm hearing concerns that that may not be appropriate,that we may need a better system," Naqvi told CBC News at Queen's Park on Tuesday.

• Ex-juror diagnosed with PTSDwantspsychiatric help available after trials

• Judge in Bernardo trial calls onprovince to boost help for traumatized jurors

"My intent is to raise this issue with thejudiciaryand withourother justice partners so that we can collectively determine what is a better approach,"Naqvisaid.

He would not say what the form the changes could take, nor did he commit to a deadline. But he said it'simportant to providecounsellingservicesin difficult cases.

"I want to engage in those conversations with the judiciary and our other justice system partners to determine what could be a better way of providing those services to jurors and based on that,determine the tools," Naqvi said.

The attorney generalmade the commitment in the wake of CBC News reports revealing thatpeople required to perform jury duty are too oftenleft to fend for themselves as they process the often disturbing and graphic evidence of a trial.

Mark Farrantwas the jury foreman in the first-degreemurder trial of a man whoslithis girlfriend's throat and stabbed her repeatedly before setting their Toronto rooming house on fire.

"The immediate, graphic horror really of the crime itself ... Idon't think I was prepared for that," Farrant said in an interview withCBC News

Farrantsaidhe has been paying toseea therapist for a yearsincebeing diagnosed withPTSD, even though the anxiety he suffers stems from themandatory civic service of jury duty.

"We have to ensure those people who have been selected to perform that service are looked after," he said.

Naqvi told CBC News that hehas heard from jurors who've been forced to confront shocking, violent evidence during trials.

"Personal stories are always very compelling," saidNaqvi. "We need to recognize and acknowledge the fact that jurors do perform a very important dutyand we've heard from stories that it could have a traumatic impact."

Former Ontario Chief Justice Patrick LeSage who presided over thePaul Bernardomurder trial is among those urgingthe province to provide jurors with better access to counselling.