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Consistency and Accessibility Key Recommendations of Mental Health Committee

The members of the Canadian Forces (CF) Family Mental Health and Social Support Advisory Committee want to ensure that mental health services are seamlessly provided and easily accessed for all CF families.

The Advisory Committee is taking the action plans drafted at the May 2008 CF Family Services Summit, and honing them into viable recommendations for enhancing future mental health programs and services. The Advisory Committee first met October 20-21, and will continue meeting over the next several months to examine the advice of experts, determine where jurisdictions lie and discuss how to bring service factions together.

“Ultimately, there’s a family out there and they need support,” said one committee member. “Military families have a need for mental health services, and there are resources out there, but they don’t always know where to go.”

The Advisory Committee noted that for families and local service providers, navigating the divisions between mental health programs can be challenging. Most programs are offered separately for CF families and members, with members receiving care from CF Health Services or Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and their families turning to Military Family Resource Centres and local civilian providers.

To give families a sense of direction, the Advisory Committee’s central recommendation is that a national mandate and funding plan be developed so that the Military Family Services Program (MFSP) and VAC could offer all necessary services not currently provided to CF families. Additionally, the Advisory Committee recommended that the MFSP could open the avenues of communication for existing service providers, ensuring a more collaborative and consistent approach to service delivery. 

To further this mandate, the Advisory Committee recommended creating a national mental health strategy that includes educational training, resources and curriculum for service providers and stakeholders. They suggested that these national resources be focused on prevention rather than intervention, and be founded on evidence-based, accountable program models. More national guidance and resources could also facilitate outreach programs to support families posted in remote areas.

Before these national standards can be applied, the Advisory Committee recognized the need to identify the CF locations where mental health resources are at their best, and where services are difficult to access. The Advisory Committee recommended conducting local environmental scans as a means to better educate families on the services currently available. This will be an important first step in increasing awareness and ensuring that enhancement initiatives complement and partner with existing programs.

“It’s about bringing all the departments together and all the pieces together,” summarized one committee member. The group felt confident that a clear mandate and national strategy could give CF families a reliable place to turn for information, direction and support.