Common guiding principles

Canadian Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Action Plan


From this understanding of suicidality, the joint strategy lays out 10 common guiding principles as follows:

  1. Engaged and enabled leadership that know, and demonstrate concern for, CAF members’ and Veterans’ well-being and work to create strong support networks is critical to success;
  2. Good mental health and well-being is critical to suicide prevention;
  3. Unlimited Liability of military service implies a social contract between CAF members and Veterans, and the Government of Canada;
  4. Suicide prevention will be integrated with other strategic efforts;
  5. A sense of belonging and a sense of purpose protect against suicide;
  6. A holistic approach is essential to suicide prevention;
  7. Resilient CAF members make resilient Veterans;
  8. Morale and welfare are incorporated into training, employment and transition systems;
  9. Suicide prevention is a shared responsibility of individuals, health care providers, colleagues and leaders; and,
  10. The well-being of the family is key to the well-being of CAF members and Veterans. 

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