Senior Leaders Attend the Military and Veteran Health Research Forum

News Release

Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, was a keynote speaker at the CIMVHR Forum in Toronto, September 26, 2017.

September 28, 2017 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

A strong Defence organization requires that Canadian military personnel receive the best possible care and support. For this reason, the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) take an active role in military health research forums, to find the best approaches going forward to awareness, prevention, and treatment of health issues, including mental health issues.

Lieutenant-General Chuck Lamarre, Commander Military Personnel Command, and Brigadier General Andrew Downes, Surgeon General, attended the 8th annual Military and Veteran Health Research Forum presented by the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) in Toronto.

Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, was a keynote speaker at the forum.

Held September 25 to 27, 2017, the forum served as a focal point for the more than 40 Canadian universities which have agreed to work together in addressing the health research requirements of CAF personnel, veterans, and their families.

Quotes

“The Military and Veteran Health Research Forum represents an essential step in building capacity in military and veteran health research in Canada, to improve health outcomes for our military personnel, our veterans, and their families. It is critical to sustain the relationships between universities and research organizations to advance health care for all Canadians.”

Lieutenant-General Chuck Lamarre, Commander Military Personnel Command

“The CAF conducts essential military health-related research with partners in other government departments, like Veterans Affairs Canada, as well as with our allies and academia. The CIMVHR and this forum provide a special capability, and an essential contribution to this research across the full spectrum of military and veteran health. Additionally, much of the research, in particular in relation to trauma care and mental health, may have relevance to the health of all Canadians.”

Brigadier-General Andrew Downes, Surgeon General

Quick Facts

  • The CIMVHR is an innovative organization that engages existing academic research resources and facilitates the development of new research, research capacity, and effective knowledge exchange.

  • CAF participation in the forum is in keeping with the commitment in Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE) to improve the resilience and health of CAF members, including those who are retiring, and to improve the support and services offered for military family members.

  • With a diverse network of academic researchers from across Canada, the annual forum has attracted over 450 Canadian researchers, clinicians, military personnel, veterans, industry stakeholders, government representatives, and international delegates eager to learn and network at Canada’s only conference dedicated to health research for the military and veterans.

  • Three days of discussion and presentations highlighted research in mental health, physical health, rehabilitation, new health technologies, and the transition from military to civilian life. The forum also touched on the social health and wellbeing of personnel, veterans, and their families, occupational health, and evolving treatment programs and clinical practices.

  • The CAF has provided leadership in the area of mental health and remains committed to working with its partners to ensure that military personnel, with their families, who are called to sacrifice so much in service to their country, receive quality care and support.

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Contacts

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

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