Minister O’Toole announces easier and faster access to effective mental health care for Veterans and their families
January 30, 2015 – Hamilton, ON – Veterans Affairs Canada
The Honourable Erin O’Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs, today announced a new permanent operational stress injury (OSI) satellite clinic in Hamilton. This is part of the Government of Canada’s strategy to provide a network of OSI clinics across the country to bring services closer to more veterans and their families. The Hamilton OSI clinic will offer Veterans living with operational stress injuries assessment and treatment from expert mental health practitioners.
Minister O’Toole also highlighted the Government’s progress on improving services for Veterans, including the recent measures to:
- increase number of psychological counselling sessions for Veterans and their families;
- increase access to Military Family Resource Centres (MFRCs) through a four year pilot project in seven locations to medically releasing CAF personnel and their families for a period of two years;
- invest in research to better understand transition from military to civilian life, suicide prevention measures, improvements in the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of mental illness in Veterans, and supporting the development of national standards and a certification process for psychiatric service dogs; and
- develop a web-based training and support module for caregivers of Veterans living with Operational Stress Injuries.
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs
613-996-4649
Media Relations
Veterans Affairs Canada
613-992-7468
