Message to Defence Team members on the launch of the Defence Team Total Health and Wellness Strategy

March 4, 2022 - Defence Stories

Team,

We are increasingly being called upon to support Canadians at home, to defend North America, and to support our likeminded allies abroad. To succeed in such critical endeavours, we must be a healthy, cohesive fighting and support force. Achieving that outcome starts with how we support one another at the institutional, team, and individual levels.

To that end, we are very pleased to release the Defence Team Total Health and Wellness Strategy (THWS), which establishes a strong, holistic, evidence-based approach to health and wellness across our institution. The THWS marks an important milestone in the care of our military members, their families, and DND public service employees.

You will note that we draw from multiple pre-existing strategies and initiatives from within our Defence Team and across the wider Government of Canada. Doing so ensures that the way we proceed is suited to the wellness challenges and opportunities unique to our Defence Team, while also aligning with best practices and requirements mandated by law and the federal public service.

The strategy is more than words; it is backed up by ongoing investment in health and wellness related programs and services. For example, COVID-19 has starkly highlighted how Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) is fundamental to the CAF’s capacity as a force, as well as our ability to protect Canadians. We will continue to rely on CFHS and other teams that support the well-being of personnel, including Military Personnel Command and ADM (HR-Civ), for advice and guidance in maintaining the total health and wellness of all members of our Defence Team.

Our well-being is also directly tied to how we treat one another. We will likewise continue to invest in programs and services aimed at building a more inclusive and respectful environment. These include new measures to better-support women’s health, combat sexual, hateful and racist misconduct, and prevent violence in the workplace.

Whatever your rank or position within our Defence Team, all of us have role to play in building and maintaining a working environment that promotes health and wellness. We ask that each member of this team considers how you, personally, can contribute to our overall mission of wellness, set a positive example for all, and take an active role in helping us achieve our individual, team and institutional potential in support of the defence of Canada.

Related links:

• Total Health and Wellness Strategy
• Total Health and Wellness Strategy Hub
• The 5 Ws of the New Defence Team Total Health and Wellness Strategy