Statement
From Mental Health Commission of Canada
November 10, 2021— Ottawa, Ontario
As we prepare to mark Remembrance Day, the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) encourages everyone to pause in grateful acknowledgment of the many sacrifices made by those who have served and those who continue to serve our country. We also ask people in the Veteran community to remember that mental health support is available.
Long before the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the pandemic, there was a growing need to support the mental health of Veterans and equip their family members, friends, and health-care professionals with resources to do the same.
Since 2016, the MHCC has worked with Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) to deliver the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Veteran Community course — which is now available virtually. This evidence-based training is tailored to the needs and realities of the Veteran community. It’s also designed to help participants build the skills they need to engage in effective conversations about mental health and substance use, increase their recognition of common mental health problems and illnesses, decrease stigma, and teach caregivers how to protect their own mental wellness. The course is available at no cost to members of the Veteran community. To date, more than 3,700 people have realized the benefits of MHFA’s virtual adaptation.
Many mental health services have joined this trend toward virtual resources to support Veterans and their families. VAC offers round-the-clock access to a mental health professional by calling 1-800-268-7708 (learn more from VAC), and additional mental health resources can be found at the Royal Canadian Legion.
Tomorrow, as we collectively reflect on the sacrifices of those who have defended and those who continue to defend our freedom, let us also consider our individual roles in supporting the Veteran community — whether that’s sharing a resource, taking a training course, or simply saying thank you.
Michel Rodrigue
President and CEO, Mental Health Commission of Canada
Contact
Media Relations
Mental Health Commission of Canada
613-683-3748
media@mentalhealthcommission.ca
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