Government of Canada expands mental health services and hires new staff to support Military Veterans in Atlantic Canada

Riddick,

Deep or not, what you say rings true.
You have very accurately described my late husband.

Regarding humility and reluctance to pat one's back: let's not forget the selfless ingrained, conditioned or innate disposition, to serve, provide and protect that drives many members to sign up in the first place.
After all, you don't park your inner-self at the door when you enlist.

Thank you Wild Thing.

It is almost inbred in us veterans.......not to complain, we are proud with perhaps too much pride to admit we are not who or what we once were.......actually, very hard to admit. Humble people find it hard to pat themselves on the back.......that is why it is so hard to reach out and say I am broken.......I need help.....and even harder to tell a stranger. They don't know what we have gone/been through.....why would they believe us or care enough to genuinely help. After all we are a stranger to them to.

Getting a little too deep.

Riddick

Riddick your bang on buddy.

Don't sell yourself short too quickly when you say "isn't as dangerous as the types...."

The body does not know the difference between good stress or bad stress. Stress is the body's reaction to harmful situations -- whether they’re real or perceived. When you feel threatened, a chemical reaction occurs in your body that allows you to act in a way to prevent injury. We know this as "fight-or-flight,” or the stress response.

Our bodies are designed to handle small doses of stress. But, we are not equipped to handle long-term, chronic stress without ill consequences. Anxiety, high blood pressure, adrenaline or missing one's family or feeling you may never come back is not limited to the field or front lines. I was in theatre of war a number of times and never had a rifle.

This is where the vast majority of civilians or politicians don't have a clue (include VRAB). You down-played what many feel but because most of us were along side someone else at the same time same place made it tolerable at the time. We had and were trained to protect those around us and our equipment. Many times it was once you got back to safe ground that it hits you.....holy SH__T am I ever lucky and thankful to be back........ ALIVE.......then it sinks in and really grabs a hold of us and doesn't let go; we remember what we don't want to, can't remember what we should.

Riddick

Honestly, it is about time. Our fleet has had to sustain a heavy operational for years, because of Canada's involvement in international operations, such as Op Apollo, as well as anti-drug interdiction off our coast, and even things like Swiss Air. There are very few sailors with any sort of sea time, that haven't been to at least one or two overseas operation. That can take its toll on people, even if it isn't as dangerous as the types of situations the Army may encounter. But we also had sailors that were deployed to Afghanistan, because the Army guys were understandably getting burnt out, but didn't have the same access to supports, like those available to those stationed in places like Gagetown, Petawawa, and Valcartier.

The Honourable Erin O’Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs, today reinforced Veterans Affairs Canada’s (VAC) commitment to providing more mental health support and service excellence for Military Veterans and former RCMP members.

Minister O’Toole announced a Memorandum of Understanding has already been signed in May 2015 with the Nova Scotia Health Authority to establish and operate an operational stress injury (OSI) clinic in the Halifax area. The new OSI clinic will be part of a network of clinics across Canada which provides full assessment, diagnosis and treatment services for Military Veterans, members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), current and former members of the RCMP, and their families, who are living with operational stress injuries. The recruitment process of the clinic mental health specialists has already begun and training is to begin immediately after hires are complete. This clinic will initially be established at 40 Alderney Drive, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, in October and will be open as soon as training is completed.

The Minister also announced a total of 146 new hires by the end of March 2016 in Atlantic Canada including 34 case managers and 52 disability benefits staff. These new hires will reduce VAC’s case manager ratio to no more than 30 individuals for every case manager. This will give case managers more time to address the complex needs of Military Veterans’ and former RCMP members.

Quick Facts

* Adding the Halifax area clinic will bring the total of operational stress injury clinics across Canada to 11. These include 10 current outpatient clinics. In addition, satellite services were expanded in eight locations throughout the country, and a ninth is set to open in Montréal in December 2015.

* Funded by VAC, all of the outpatient clinics are operated in partnership with provincial health authorities.

* VAC and DND, together, will have a network of 27 specialized mental health clinics.

* Military and RCMP Veterans, and their families, can receive immediate mental health counselling with a professional over the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling, toll free, 1-800-268-7708.

* VAC is hiring 45 new employees in the Halifax area by the end of March 2016, including 13 case managers and 26 disability benefits staff.

* Yesterday, Minister O’Toole announced 61 new hires in Charlottetown by the end of March 2016.

* VAC will have a total of 309 new hires across Canada by 2020.

Quotes

“The new operational stress injury clinic in the Halifax area will bring highly specialized and customized outpatient treatment options closer to home for Canada’s East Coast Military Veterans, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, current and former members of the RCMP and their families. We are expanding the network of mental health services available to Veterans and their families and will continue to review and evaluate services to ensure Veterans’ needs are met. These initiatives are

evidence of the Government of Canada’s commitment to ensuring Military Veterans and their families are treated with care, compassion and respect.”

The Honourable Erin O’Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs

“Nova Scotians have a very close relationship with the proud men and women who have fought on behalf of our country and our values, and that have kept us safe. The fabric of our communities is very much intertwined with the presence and work of the members of the CAF and the RCMP. Today’s announcement clearly illustrates our Government’s commitment to supporting our Veterans of the CAF and of the RCMP across the province, but also across the country, and helping to ensure they and their families have resources they can turn to.”

The Honourable Peter MacKay, Regional Minister for Nova Scotia, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

“The health and safety of Canada’s Veterans is critical, both during and after times of service. Today’s announcement ensures that our Government will continue to provide our Veterans and their families with the benefits and services that they require.”

Robert Goguen, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice

“I am very pleased to see our Government moving forward on its commitment to making significant investments in programs and services to ensure Military Veterans and their families receive the care and support they need, now and in the future. Minister O’Toole’s announcement today allows VAC to put more frontline resources where they are needed most and to continually improve and advance the care and benefits for those injured in the service of our great country.”

Gerald Keddy, Member of Parliament for South Shore–St.Margaret’s

Associated Links

* Network of OSI Clinics * Mental health services, support and information * Service excellence plan for Veterans * Improved case management