The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are jointly committed to the health and wellness of every Defence Team member.

“It is an important day for the Defence Team as we announce the publication of the Defence Team Total Health and Wellness Strategy. This strategy reinforces our commitment to health and wellness through continued investment in related strategies, programs and services for the entire Defence Team, including our retiring and ill or injured members. The health and wellness of all Defence Team members and their families, is, without a doubt, my top priority.“

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence

“Enhancing our health and wellness services are crucial to the health and operational effectiveness of the Canadian Armed Forces. We have a duty to ensure our personnel remain mentally and physically fit, ready to meet the demands of our contemporary operational environment and the challenges of our military lifestyle. This important strategy builds on our efforts to ensure military and non-military members of the Defence Team are cared for and supported as they under take their most important task defending Canada and Canadians.”

General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff

• Examples of some tangible ways in which Defence Team members will benefit from the short- and long-term objectives set out in the strategy, include:

  • Expanding Military Family Resource Centres to ensure military families – “the strength behind the uniform” - have support when and where required. CAF members and their families can expect to see:
    • reduced wait times for mental health services;
    • improved family access to tele-medicine services and childcare requests; and
    • increased access to counselling services.
  • Providing enhanced health care to CAF members throughout their recovery process from an illness or injury, in support of their return to work or transition process, by staffing:
    • 30 additional occupational therapists to develop and provide evidence-based physical and mental rehabilitation programs; and
    • 48 additional nurse case managers to deliver healthcare coordination and support to CAF members with complex needs.
  • Expanding the Office of Disability Management by offering personalized support services to injured, ill or impaired public service employees of all Level One and command organizations through the establishment of additional regional offices, providing the required capacity to maintain a healthy workforce.
  • Augmenting Base/Wing/Unit fitness programming in support of BALANCE, the CAF’s Physical Performance Strategy, 44 new staff were hired, with 18 of these positions providing direct support to the 310 Reserve units dispersed across the country.
  • Introducing the Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Centre of Expertise as a key enabler to effectively prevent, report, respond to, and support victims of workplace harassment and violence occurrences involving public service employees within the Defence Team. This new office is designed to provide clarity, strategic centralization, and subject matter expertise in a field that is often complex and extremely stressful for those concerned.
  • Prioritizing women’s health by implementing the Women’s Health Framework which will:
    • increase knowledge regarding everyday and long-term health for women;
    • optimize preventive medicine for women;
    • support women’s health care in the military context; and
    • enhance women’s occupational performance.

Associated links

• Defence Team Total Health and Wellness Strategy
• The 5 Ws of the New Defence Team Total Health and Wellness Strategy
• Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Centre of Expertise (WHVP CoE)
• Military Family Resource Centres (MFRC)
• Office of Disability Management (ODM)
• BALANCE

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
613-904-3333
mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca