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Access to Mental Health Services for Canadian Forces Families

If you’re a Canadian Forces (CF) family member seeking mental health services and you’re not sure where to turn, you’re not alone. Between the services available at Military Family Resource Centres (MFRCs), on CF bases, wings and stations, and in the wider CF and civilian community, it’s not always clear where the most appropriate services are available and which services are open to families.

Director Military Family Services (DMFS) would like to clear things up by providing a brief outline of the mental health services which CF families can access. The short summaries below should clarify what’s available to CF personnel and their civilian family members when seeking help together, or independently. The summaries can also guide social service providers in making appropriate referrals for CF families, and in establishing new relationships with local mental health service partners.

MFRCs
MFRCs will often be the first stop for CF family members looking to access mental health services. MFRC Prevention, Support and Intervention Coordinators provide assessment, referral and short-term counselling to support military families experiencing a crisis or high levels of stress. Coordinators can also connect CF families with education, prevention and self-help groups at the MFRC, and with a wide range of civilian mental health services available in the greater community.

DMFS also supports the enhancement of MFRC mental health services through our ongoing Pilot Projects. The Valcartier MFRC’s project is especially pertinent – they’re assessing the benefits of expanded mental health services and social support available to families experiencing deployment. Click here to learn more.

Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS)
OSISS connects CF personnel and families affected by operational stress injuries with staff who’ve been there, and are ready to listen, share information and support. For families, OSISS Family Peer Support Coordinators provide non-clinical, empathetic  support tailored from coordinators who’ve experienced an OSI in their own families. Visit www.osiss.ca for more information.

CF Member Assistance Program (CFMAP)
By dialling 1-800-268-7708, CF personnel are connected to external, short-term counselling services outside of the military health care system. CFMAP is a primarily a CF-personnel focussed program, but families are also welcome to participate in this program.

CF Bases, Wings and Stations
Operational Trauma Stress Support Centres (OTSSCs)
OTSSCs provide CF personnel with mental health services upon referral by a doctor or General Duty Medical Officer. Family members may only access these services in support of the CF member’s treatment (i.e., for couples or family counseling). OTSSCs use a multidisciplinary treatment model to provide assessment, educational outreach, treatment and research in five CF locations: Halifax, Valcartier, Ottawa, Edmonton, and Esquimalt.

Psychosocial Services
CF personnel can see a psychosocial clinician with or without a referral from a doctor or a General Duty Medical Officer. A mental health nurse or social worker is available during clinic hours to accommodate people on demand and make the initial assessment to better assign the request to a clinician. Though psychosocial services are primarily in place to serve CF personnel, spouses may by invited to participate in couples counselling or to support the CF member’s treatment. In a crisis situation, family members may also be referred to Psychosocial Services for short-term counselling. 

General Mental Health Services
CF personnel can access a range of primary mental health services on CF bases, wings and stations with a referral from a doctor or General Duty Medical Officer. Spouses can only access General Mental Health Services in consultation and support of the military member’s treatment.

Civilian Services
Mental health services for civilian family members are primarily provided through the provincial/territorial health care system. For information on the civilian mental health services available in your region, visit www.mentalhealthcanada.com or www.ementalhealth.ca. For additional online resources, visit our Top Ten Mental Health Web Resources for CF Families by clicking here.