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Support services

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We are changing our hours to be there when you need us the most: SMSRC counsellors are available 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET, 7 days a week. Overnight support is provided by our new partner, Health Canada’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Your feedback is important to us. Let us know by calling us at 1-844-750-1648 or emailing us at DND.SMSRC-CSRIS.MDN@forces.gc.ca

The Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre (SMSRC) provides support services to people directly or indirectly affected by sexual misconduct, including:

For bilingual and confidential support, information, guidance on how to support others, and referrals to care and service providers, you can contact us toll-free 24/7 at 1-844-750-1648.

Our support services are confidential within prescribed legal limits.

Update to the 24/7 support line: SMSRC counsellors are available from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

Overnight support, from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. ET, is now provided by Health Canada’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), ensuring continued access to confidential, bilingual, trauma-informed support. Callers may also leave a voicemail for SMSRC counsellors, who will follow up the next day.

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When you call us

7 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET

During these hours, one of our counsellors will answer your call in the official language of your choice.

They will:

9 p.m. to 7 a.m. ET

Overnight, you have two options when calling the SMSRC support line:

Health Canada’s EAP professionals are trained in trauma-informed care, come from diverse backgrounds, and are experienced in supporting individuals from a wide range of communities.

If your situation requires specialized support related to sexual misconduct or military sexual trauma, a secure and confidential referral process ensures that an SMSRC counsellor will follow up with you the next day.

This partnership allows us to maintain 24/7 access to support while ensuring that overnight callers receive timely and expert care.

Health Canada’s Employee Assistance Program partnership

Health Canada’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a trusted federal partner with more than 30 years of experience providing confidential, trauma-informed mental health and wellness support to public servants and their families. This partnership supports our goal of enhancing service delivery while upholding the compassion, confidentiality, and quality of care that individuals can expect from us.

Health Canada’s EAP is one of Canada’s largest providers of employee assistance program. It offers 24/7 access to mental health professionals from diverse backgrounds and trained in trauma-informed care. Their program is designed to meet the diverse needs of individuals from a wide range of communities.

Health Canada’s EAP operates independently of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. However, if your situation requires specialized support related to sexual misconduct or military sexual trauma, a secure and confidential referral process has been established in collaboration with our partners at Health Canada’s EAP. This process ensures that an SMSRC counsellor will follow up with you the next day.

We will closely monitor the effectiveness of this partnership and gather feedback to ensure that we continue to meet the needs of those who have been directly or indirectly affected by sexual misconduct.

Initial support

Our counsellors can support you with information on options and guidance if, for example:

Referrals

With your consent, our counsellors can connect you with CAF, DND, provincial, territorial and community-based support and care resources. They can also refer you to Veterans Affairs Canada programs and services that suit your needs.

Reporting sexual misconduct

If you wish to explore reporting options, our counsellors or coordinators can provide basic information on how to report sexual misconduct both within the CAF and externally. Referrals for more detailed guidance remain confidential.

If you are a CAF member, or when the sexual misconduct involves a CAF member, you may discuss reporting with a:

These officers can provide in-depth information on reporting sexual misconduct within the CAF, the military justice system and related CAF policies. They work in collaboration with us and are available by referral upon your request.

If you do not want to pursue your case through the military justice system, we can refer you to a police organization in your area.

CAF and DND leaders may also receive reports of sexual misconduct from military or public service personnel.

In such cases, the MPLO or MLO can provide leaders with guidance on reporting protocols, policy interpretation, and organizational considerations that may arise as a result of a disclosure.

Continuing support and assistance

Individuals can obtain continuing support and assistance from a dedicated coordinator in the Response and Support Coordination (RSC) program.

You may wish to sign up for the RSC program if you have registered or intend to register a formal complaint. However, it is not necessary to formally report your experience(s) of sexual misconduct in order to access the RSC program.

The RSC program assigns a dedicated coordinator to each client. The coordinators can provide services that may include:

To discuss continuing support and the RSC program or to request a referral, call the SMSRC confidential 24/7 toll-free number, 1-844-750-1648.

If you opt into the RSC program, your assigned Response and Support coordinator will make first contact with you on weekdays during business hours: 7 am to 5 pm Atlantic Time, Eastern Time and Pacific Time. You may withdraw from the program at any time.

Guidance and information for leaders

If you are a member of the CAF chain of command or a DND public service executive or manager, you may need to address incidents of sexual misconduct and support affected individuals, families, units, or teams.

We recommend that you call us from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET on our toll-free number, 1-844-750-1648, for guidance and information regarding both CAF and DND services for public service employees.

One of our Response and Support counsellors can assist you on:

Contact the SMSRC

By telephone, 24/7 at:

1-844-750-1648 (toll-free, North America)
613-996-3900 (National Capital Region or collect from anywhere except the United States)

Please note that, from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. ET, your call will be handled by a mental health professional from Health Canada’s Employee Assistance Program. SMSRC counsellors are available to answer calls from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

Alternate and international telephone numbers

Canadian Switched Network (CSN, from Canada and deployed operations)

CSN ACOD 86-996-3900

Defense Switched Network (DSN of the United States (US) Department of Defense in the US and deployed operations)

CSN/DSN 319-996-3900

NATO Core Network (NCN via DSN)

NCN ACOD 90-01-319-996-3900

Multipurpose Integrated Telecommunication Network (MITNET, Global Affairs Canada)

MITNET ACOD 8-1-844-750-1648 or 8-1-844-996-3900

Toll-free (select foreign countries)

You can call us toll-free from the following countries:

When you call from these countries, first enter the access number below to reach the toll-free system. You will then be prompted to enter the Canada Country Code and the telephone number.

Access number: 80058581234
Canada Country Code: 001
Telephone: 613-996-3900
Email: DND.SMSRC-CSRIS.MDN@forces.gc.ca — We monitor and reply to emails during business hours, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., ET.

Fill out the form to provide your feedback or to file a complaint.

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