DT News Interview: Col. Stéphane Boucher and François Bariteau, on the Defence Team Total Health and Wellness Strategy
Video / March 10, 2022
Transcript
(ET) Healthy and resilient people are at the core of everything the Defence Team does to deliver for Canadians. The release of the Defence Team Total Health and Wellness Strategy emphasizes an unprecedented focus on the care for all military members, their families, DND public service employees and Defence civilians alike. To tell us more about the Strategy and how it will impact Defence Team members, we’re joined today by Total Health and Wellness subcommittee co-chairs, François Bariteau and Colonel Stéphane Boucher. Colonel Boucher, to start us off, could you briefly describe the Strategy and why one is needed?
(SB) Yeah, I’d love to, because I’m excited with this project that’s been 3 years in the making. So the Total Health and Wellness Strategy is the first of its kind in Defence. It’s an inclusive strategy, and represents a renewed and integrated approach of the way we care for members of the Defence Team. As you mentioned, that includes the public servants, military members and military families. And with the growing number of programs and services available to both the military members and their civilian counterparts, it’s important to align and coordinate all health and wellness efforts. The ultimate goal of improving the health and wellness of the Defence Team is of primordial importance.
(ET) Thank you, sir. François, specifically how will the Strategy improve the workplace of the Defence Team?
(FB) Thank you for the question. The Strategy provides in fact a… a framework to help identify the multiple connections between our professional and personal lives, how they interact and influence our ability to balance the demands at work and at home. We should think of this Strategy as a holistic health and wellness umbrella, under which we’ll find all of the DND CAF health and wellness initiatives, programs, services and resources that exist. Through this Strategy, we are able to identify gaps and duplications, develop and implement new health and wellness program elements, as well as make existing programs and services that care for the Defence Team workplace, individual and familial health and wellbeing more widely available and accessible.
(ET) Thank you. And Colonel Boucher, what are some of the short- and long-term objectives that you’re hoping to achieve through this Strategy?
(SB) Well, you know, that’s a great question. So the Strategy is a 20-year view, the Strategy is broad in scope and touches upon all the dimensions of health. But one of the goals is obviously to improve the work environment, whether it’s on a base, a wing, in the office or on operations. Defence Team members have the right to be treated with respect, dignity and fairness. That’s why we’re adding personnel to bolster our efforts to eliminate harmful and inappropriate sexual behavior. We’re going to be introducing a continued growth of the Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Center of Expertise, and offer a full range of services to the Defence Team. We also recognize that sex and gender are important determinants of health, and that when… women and gender-diverse people face different challenges. So the Strategy specifically supports women’s health through the implementation of the Canadian Armed Forces Women’s Health Framework. And military families will benefit as well with the Military Family Resource Centers receiving extra financing. This will be to reduce wait time for mental health services, provide access to telemedicine and improve counseling services. All these were highly solicited during the pandemic.
(ET) Thank you, sir. And Monsieur Bariteau, the final word is left to you, is there anything else you’d like to add?
(FB) Yes, absolutely. As mentioned by the Colonel Boucher, this Strategy has been 3 years in the making, and the work and effort that have been invested in its development by all members of the team is second to none. The Strategy is not one size fits all, but rather a mechanism that will enable us to adapt to the specifics care and needs of the Defence Team. This is very important. Through this Strategy, I truly believe we will be able to improve the accessibility and efficiency of healthcare and wellness services by investing in the hiring of additional therapists, case managers, and other healthcare professionals and providers, as well as expand disability management programs to support the entire Defence Team across the country. Most importantly, keeping at the forefront diversity and inclusiveness.
(ET) Thank you, Colonel Boucher, thank you, Monsieur Bariteau, it was excellent to hear about this Strategy. All the best.
(FB) Thank you.
(SB) Thank you.
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