Mental health resources for CAF Members and their families

Our investigation, Hidden Battles, identified resources that are available to Reserve Force members to support mental health.

For CAF members, the first step to getting help for a mental health need is to contact their local CAF medical clinic. Members will receive immediate help or will be referred to the proper health service program by a medical doctor. CAF members have daily access to a general duty medical officer at the Base/Wing medical clinic.

Medical clinics provide walk-in services; these include crisis services, such as seeing a physician, social worker or mental health nurse, and psychosocial services. No appointments are required to be seen. Mental health services do require a referral from a physician. 

The Defence Team – Mental health and wellness webpage lists resources and information for CAF members and their families to get the care they need.

• CF Member Assistance Program (CF MAP): This program is a confidential, voluntary, short-term counselling service (up to a maximum of eight sessions) for CAF members to resolve issues affecting their well-being and military life. CFMAP is available to both Regular Force and Reserve Force members, their families, and veterans. Additionally, CFMAP can be accessed across Canada by phone or online chat. Non-Regular Force members and their family members may receive full assistance under this program only if the situation/issue for which assistance is sought is directly linked to their service in the CAF. This condition notwithstanding, all individuals may receive an initial assessment followed by an appropriate referral. The assessment process includes client contact within 48 hours and an appointment within five days (or sooner in crisis situations). Eligible members who require follow-up services beyond the scope of this program will be referred to Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) with the member’s consent. Individuals not entitled to follow-up care from CFHS will be referred to an appropriate provincial/territorial agency.
• Defence Advisory Groups and Organizations: represent the four groups designated under the Employment Equity Act to provide advice and unique perspectives to CAF leadership and DND management. As well, the Defence Team Pride Organization advocates for the employment equity interests of Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Plus (2SLGBTQI+) members and employees. The following are Defence Advisory Groups and Organizations: 
  • Defence Indigenous Advisory Group (DIAG)
  • Defence Visible Minority Advisory Group (DVMAG)
  • Defence Women’s Advisory Organization (DWAO)
  • Defence Advisory Group for Persons with Disabilities (DAGPWD)
  • Defence Team Pride Advisory Organization (DTPAO)

Self-help

• Mental Health in the CAF page: This web page provides information on mental illnesses, disorders, and prevention as well as, information about how CAF members careers can be affected while or after recovering from mental health needs.  
• Mental Health Continuum Model: The Mental Health Continuum Model is a reliable tool used to assess, interpret, and predict CAF members’ psychological, social, and emotional well-being. Members can also use this tool to self-monitor and self-identify changes in their own mental health.  Additionally, the CAF promotes the use of this tool on the Mental Health Services intranet site and on the CAF’s Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) Mobile Application. 
• Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR): This program provides CAF members and leaders with mental health training at various stages of their career to prepare them for any potential challenges they may encounter due to their service. It helps members become familiar with mental health well-being. These trainings are group-focussed and offered in-person or virtually. 
• Military Benefits Browser: A tool used to guide CAF members in assessing their suitability for various benefits available. It allows CAF members to identify if they are Regular Force or Reserve Force, and if they are ill or injured to narrow down the applicable benefits to which they may be entitled.

Peer Support Resources 

• Canadian Armed Forces Sentinel Program: The Royal Canadian Chaplain Service developed this program, which expanded into a CAF-wide initiative in 2017. It is embedded within the CAF’s Joint Suicide Prevention Strategy and is aligned with the Total Health and Wellness Strategy. The Program operates on all Bases/Wings that have a Chaplain presence and is open to all military occupations within the Regular Force and the Reserve Force. This program is currently made up of over 9,500 non-professional peer support CAF members who have volunteered to be a support resource. The Sentinels are trained to observe and detect mental health issues as well as offer non-judgmental support to CAF members in need. They can also connect CAF members to appropriate mental health resources. Contact the Chaplain’s Office of your wing or base for more information. If you don’t know how to reach your base or wing’s Chaplain, contact the National Chaplain’s Office.
• Helping Our Peers by Providing Empathy (HOPE) program: Provides confidential peer support to military members and families who have lost a loved one who was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, active or retired, Regular or Reserve Force.

• Veterans Affairs Canada: Serving and former CAF can make a disability benefits application for one of the most common ongoing mental health needs related to military service (such as anxiety, depressive or trauma-and-stressor-related disorders). Those who do so can receive immediate mental health coverage, while their disability application is assessed.
• Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families: The institute works with Veterans, Families, service providers, and researchers to identify the best possible mental health care and supports. 
• Operational Stress Injury Connect (OSI Connect): A free mobile app that was developed by the Royal Ottawa OSI Clinic with the support of Veterans Affairs Canada. It helps to deepen the understanding of OSI injuries between OSI patients and their families. Resources on the OSI connect app address challenges that include post-traumatic stress and triggers, depression, anger, sleep problems, substance abuse, stress management and more.
• Canadian Mental Health Association: Each Canadian Mental Health Association branch, region and division operates as its own charitable organization offering a range of community mental health and substance use health programs and services, mostly in the following areas: mental health promotion, suicide prevention, peer support, and youth services and programs. 
• The Family Information Line: The Family Information Line supports CAF members, veterans, and their families with situations resulting from the military lifestyle. Professional counsellors provide confidential short-term counselling and crisis support. They can also provide referrals to other mental health supports that are suitable to you or your family’s needs. They are available to you 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, by telephone, email, or video appointment.
• They can be reached by telephone in North America at 1-800-866-4546, internationally at 00-800-771-17722 or by email at FIL-LIF@cfmws.com. Requests for video appointments can be made by telephone or email.
• Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services, which include: 
  • Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS) Family Peer Support Coordinator 
  • Military Family Resource Centres (MFRCs)
  • Strongest Families Institute