BG – 14.001 - January 28, 2014
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and the Department of National Defence (DND) are working to ensure that Veterans and military members with service-related mental health issues and their families receive the support they need. We recognize the seriousness of operational stress injuries (OSI) among Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel, veterans, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and their families.
The two departments offer a range of benefits and services to reduce the burden of illness and injury, and support mental and physical well-being. Today, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and veterans with mental health conditions, as well as their families, have greater access to a continuum of specialized care than ever before.
Expert help is available at your base and wing clinics, via the CF Member Assistance Program (CFMAP), or at your local emergency room. Reach out to your friends, family members, leaders, chaplains and medical professionals for support.
If you are currently combating mental illness, don't avoid or delay accessing support and treatment. The CFMAP is available at 1-800-268-7708 (open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year). If it is an emergency, call 911.
CF Health Services
The main providers of mental health services for serving CAF members are located within CF Health Services.
The first point of contact for many CAF members who are experiencing mental health difficulties is their primary care clinician at their local CAF medical clinic. This individual will either provide the required assistance or refer the member to the most appropriate resource. In the case of an emergency, a member can access a physician during daily sick parade. After hours, members should contact their local hospital emergency department or call 911.
The Psychosocial Program is also available at CAF medical clinics, staffed by social workers, mental health nurses and addiction counsellors. CAF members may self-refer on a walk-in basis to the Psychosocial Program or be referred by a physician or others such as their supervisor.
Types of services:
- Brief Intervention: Short-term counselling services which may involve the service member and his or her family. Problems include adjustment difficulties, workplace issues, marriage or other family problems including family violence.
- Crisis Intervention: Staff is available for crisis response.
- Addictions Consultation: Initial screening, education and consultation around alcohol, other drugs or gambling addictions.
- Information Services: CAF members may access a range of psycho-educational information through Psychosocial Program staff.
- Administrative Requests: There are mechanisms by which military members may request geographic transfers or special consideration for personal and family reasons. These may include, but are not limited to, the need to be close to an elderly parent in need of support, a child requiring regular access to specialized medical facilities and treatment, etc.
- Pre/Post Deployment Screenings: Prior to deployment, all service members undergo a pre-deployment screening to determine deployment readiness. Upon completion of a deployment all service members are directed to complete a post-deployment screening questionnaire and interview.
Further CAF support is available, upon referral from a physician, from psychiatrists and psychologists.
Operational Trauma and Stress Support Centres
- Operational trauma and stress support centres were established to meet the needs of CAF members returning from overseas deployments and suffering from tour-related psychological problems.
- The operational trauma and stress support centres are established in Ottawa, Halifax, Valcartier, Edmonton, Esquimalt, Petawawa, and Gagetown.
- Operational trauma and stress support centres are an initiative designed to complement the full spectrum, high-quality health services the CAF provide to Canada’s military personnel wherever and whenever they serve.
Integrated Personnel Support Centers (IPSC)
VAC and DND work together through the IPSCs to help CAF personnel (Regular and Reserve), veterans and their families achieve a successful transition from military to civilian life
IPSCs were founded on the principle that early intervention makes a difference in recovering from illness or injuries and successfully re-establishing into civilian life. The 24 IPSCs provide support to CAF ill and injured personnel, veterans, and their families, with a focus on the following core functions: return to work program coordination; casualty support outreach delivery; casualty tracking; casualty administrative and advocacy services; support platoon structure to provide military leadership, supervision, and administrative support; and a liaison for military family resource centers with local base support representatives and local unit commanding officers.
VAC collaborates with DND to conduct outreach to CAF personnel, veterans and their families to provide them with a clear understanding of the programs, services and supports available to them. This includes conducting transition interviews with releasing members before they leave the military.
Please visit the IPSC website for more information.
Veterans Affairs also has more than 650 points of service (as of the end of January, 2014), including IPSCs and VAC area offices. See our interactive map of offices across Canada.
Personalized Case Management
Case management services are offered by Veterans Affairs to assist former CAF personnel, veterans, RCMP members and their families who require assistance with current challenges they are facing. Some examples when veterans might need case management include coping with serious illness or adjusting to the loss of one’s career.
Please visit VAC’s website for more information on personalized case management.
Service teams are also available in our offices across the country to help identify and respond to veterans’ needs. In addition to case managers, client service agents are part of a team that is supported by a doctor, a nurse, a disability benefit officer, as well as experts in mental health and rehabilitation. VAC works closely with the CAF prior to its members’ release to help with their transition to civilian life.
More information is available on transition interviews.
Disability Benefits
Disability benefits are financial payments provided to individuals who have a service-related disability. Disability awards provide injured CAF members or veterans with a tax-free cash award to recognize and compensate for pain and suffering as a result of an injury or illness resulting from military service.
More information is available on disability benefits.
Rehabilitation Program
The purpose of the Rehabilitation Program is to ensure that a veteran improves his or her health to the fullest extent possible and adjusts to life at home, in his or her community or at work. The program includes medical, psycho social and vocational rehabilitation services.
More information on the Rehabilitation Program is available.
Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS)
The Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS) Program is a peer-based support network for CAF members, veterans and their families.
The Operational Stress Injury Social Support Program was created in 2001, and is a very successful partnership between DND, the CAF and VAC. Since that time, more than 8 400 people have been helped through the program. Peer support is provided by trained individuals who have themselves experienced an operational stress injury. Family members who have lived with someone who has experienced an operational stress injury also provide peer support to other families and can offer some understanding with the issues associated with the experience.
More information is available on the OSSIS website
Joint Network of Operational Stress Injury Clinics
Each operational stress injury clinic provides assessment, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and support to serving CAF members and veterans. Educational programs as well as individual, group and family therapy are also available.
A VAC-DND joint network of 17 OSI clinics is currently in place.
- Nine VAC-funded specialized outpatient clinics for OSIs have been established in Fredericton, Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa, London, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.
- Tele-mental health capacity is in place in each of these clinics for those living in rural areas.
- One VAC residential treatment clinic has also been established at Ste. Anne’s Hospital in Montréal, Quebec.
More information on the OSI network and Community Health Services is available.
Registered Community Health Professionals
VAC and DND have a joint list of approved registered community health professionals who provide care to members and veterans. These providers offer assessment and treatment services to veterans and men and women in uniform with mental health issues to reduce their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Providers work with VAC and DND staff to ensure clients receive quality services. VAC currently has over 4 000 registered mental health providers across Canada.
Clinical Care Managers
VAC has significantly increased its front-line health services capacity by adding approximately 375 clinical care managers, ensuring increased capacity to provide more intensive time-limited support to veterans with complex mental health needs when this is required. Clinical care managers assist veterans and their families in becoming reconnected to their communities and the support systems, programs and services that are essential to their mental health.
More information on mental health care providers is available.
PTSD Coach Canada
PTSD Coach Canada is a free mobile app that can help individuals and their families manage the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. The mobile app was adapted by Veterans Affairs Canada, in partnership with the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Mental Health Association, from the U.S.V.A. PTSD Coach app. The PTSD Coach Canada app can be downloaded to mobile devices and tablets free-of-charge through the iTunes store and the Android Market.
More information on PTSD Coach Canada is available on VAC’s website.
Pastoral Outreach Network
Pastoral Outreach can provide veterans and their immediate family with spiritual support when the need arises. This service is similar to the way military chaplains provide help to those who are serving.
More information on pastoral outreach is available on VAC’s website.
Help is only a phone call away
Any Veteran who feels he or she may have an operational stress injury such as PTSD should contact Veterans Affairs Canada.
- If you are in crisis or thinking about hurting yourself or others you can call us 24 hours-a-day, 7 days a week, at 1-800-268-7708 or TDD 1-800-567-5803 for free counselling for you or family members.
- Confidential peer support (peer, family, and bereavement support) is available at 1-800-883-6094.
- Information on VAC services and benefits, including how to access VAC-funded OSI clinics can be obtained by calling 1-866-522-2122.