Summerside native working with Operational Stress Injury Social Support Program

Johnny you could not have said it any better i as well attend same group with them both and she is one of a kind a very special lady that gives more than just advice she puts her hearth and soul into helping vets and i look forward to many more osis groups and hope that more groups will be starting up across the country so all can have the ability to meeting new vets and building new friendships, it was a life changing experience for me and my wife and the group helped get me back into a friendly social experience which sure beats the old me sitting at home never wanting to go anywhere or do anything now they complain they can't shut me up lol

Great article. I am part of the PEI OSSIS under This awesome lady. I cannot say enough about her. She had been there herself, and had lots of trauma in her life, with the death of her husband. Kendra has been there having done tours. She has expanded the Ossis fm one area of the island to several small gps now. BZ to her. Also the man on the right of this pic is Austin Mclin, with his dog Myah. Austin is a Vietnam Vet who lives on PEI. He was a dog handler in Nam. He has been awesome to help us in the gp train our dogs, including my own little Chili. BZ to you also Austin.
I feel if all OSSIS gps where like this throughout Canada, it would help a lot of Vets. Johnny, Out..VVV..

Summerside native working with Operational Stress Injury Social Support Program

Published on March 29, 2017


Veterans Dennis Hopping, left, John B. Perry, Brian Sutton and Austin McLin chat after a recent veteran peer support group in Summerside, while dog Myah rests nearby.

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. – Kendra Mellish knows first hand there are no stronger bonds than the ones you form in the military.

Every day, the retired Royal Canadian Air Force captain works with veterans to ensure they get access to the help and resources they need.

“I served for 27 years before I retired. Now I am employed by the Department of National Defense and Veterans Affairs Canada under the Operational Stress Injury Social Support Program (OSISS) as the P.E.I. sole peer support co-ordinator. I look after all Island veterans with operation stress injuries,” she said.

Every week, on Tuesdays, Mellish sets up shop at the Summerside Legion and plays organizer to a veteran peer support group, allowing them to talk about their week as well as their experience in the service or their struggle on the home front, whether that’s health care, insurance or difficulty navigating the system.

“I do this job because these people, they need me just as much as I need them,” said Mellish.

“There are so many hurting on P.E.I. that need help.”

Mellish served in Afghanistan, as did her husband, the late Warrant Officer Frank Mellish, who was killed in action in September 2006.

Sharing her experience is a way of self-healing, she said.

“Groups like this are healing for me. And in ways we heal each other. We support one another. This environment is better than staying in your basement for nine years, being isolated.”

Seeing a veteran participate in the sessions and witnessing their accomplishments are her favourite things.

“Instead of being angry and bitter, seeing them … be at peace and getting the services they need, that’s the gratitude I get. It’s not the pats on the back, it’s seeing them turn that corner.”

On March 6, Mellish participated in an online forum celebrating International Women’s Day. Her presentation was called “The Ultimate Sacrifice” and focused on how to live a great life despite the fact that life is difficult.

“Personal growth might seem sudden, but it’s a result of small, often unnoticeable, incremental steps.”

Mellish wants to assure people that things can get better.

“You have total responsibility for what you do and how you respond to the fact that life is hard. And accepting that comes with accepting that you have the responsibility to make it better … not only that, you have the ability and power to make it better.”

For now, Mellish wants veterans to be recognized for what they have done.

“For our future, they need to be recognized for their service and compensated for the things they’ve endured and the sacrifices they’ve made.

“But they need to know that they aren’t alone. There are other people who are going through the same journeys.”

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/community/2017/3/29/summerside-native-working-with-operational-stress-injury-social-.html