Record of Discussion - 8 May 2024

8 May 2024
14:00 – 16:00 (ET)

Virtual – Microsoft Teams

Mental Health Advisory Group members

  • Sergeant (Retired) Alannah Gilmore – Co-Chair
  • Warrant Officer (Retired) Brian McKenna
  • Dave Gallson, Mood Disorders Society of Canada
  • Dr. Gail Wideman
  • Dr. Maya Roth
  • Sergeant (Retired) Michael Blais, Canadian Veterans Advocacy
  • Dr. Stewart Madon, Canadian Psychological Association
  • Captain (Retired) Tarik Kadri
  • Corporal (Retired) Victoria Jonas
  • Dr. Don Richardson, Canadian Psychiatric Association

Regrets

  • Sapper (Retired) Aaron Bedard
  • Karla Thorpe, Mental Health Commission of Canada
  • Constable (Retired) Trevor Jenvenne, Royal Canadian Legion
  • Corporal (Retired) Dennis MacKenzie, Brave and Broken – Co-Chair
  • Captain (Retired) Robert Thibeau, Aboriginal Veterans Autochtones
  • Captain (Navy) Wade Brockway, Canadian Armed Forces, Director of Mental Health

Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs

  • Sweta Daboo, Special Assistant Atlantic

Veterans Affairs Canada officials

  • Dr. Cyd Courchesne, Chief Medical Officer, Health Professionals Division, (Co-Chair)
  • Julie Drury, Director, Mental Health, Health Professionals Division
  • Ghada Makhlouf, A/Manager National Programs, Directorate of Mental Health
  • Robert Walker, Special Projects, Commemoration
  • Megan MacKinnon, A/Program Operations Assistant, Community Engagement
  • Elizabeth Hughes, Project Officer, Community Engagement

Observer

  • Sonia Poirier, Office of the Veterans Ombud

Land acknowledgement and welcome remarks

The VAC Co-Chair led the meeting from Newmarket, ON and acknowledged that she was on the lands of the Williams Treaties First Nations and the traditional unceded territory of the Anishinaabe. She recognized the importance of the lands we call home, the harms from our past and reaffirms our commitment and responsibility to acknowledge our ancestry and territory. The group had a moment of silence of acknowledgement.

Approval of previous Record of Discussion

The 30 November 2023 Record of Discussion was tabled and approved by the members.

Debriefs and member discussion

Death of a Veteran by suicide

The VAC Co-Chair introduced Robert Walker, Special Projects, Commemoration Division with Veterans Affairs Canada. Robert led a short debrief on prior discussions from the Joint Commemoration/Mental Health Advisory Working Group for the Recognition of those who Died by Suicide. Robert shared some key points surrounding how CAF and Veteran members are memorialized when a death is attributed to suicide:

  • VAC works with Department of National Defence on honours and awards;
  • A memorial package is issued (all deaths are memorialized with the same respect and recognition, and with a cross, ribbon, scroll, bar, medals and awards); and
  • Names are entered into the 7th Book of Remembrance.

The Working Group agreed previously upon a proposal that could be quickly implemented: a VAC event on World Suicide Prevention Day, 10 September, laying a wreath (live wreath in the colours associated with suicide prevention and with a special ribbon) to recognize and commemorate Veterans and CAF members who died by suicide. The group agreed in principle with this proposal.

A short discussion was held by the members following this debrief, and comments were indicative of the following:

  • Approaches should be based on discussions with families and their wishes, and involving the families on commemoration ideas is a good approach, some may want to opt in or out. Bring in their perspective of navigating sensitivities, as there is no one size fits all approach.

Ghada Makhlouf, A/Manager, National Programs, Directorate of Mental Health provided to the group a brief overview of current VAC actions and support following notification of a death by suicide. Several key points included:

  • Within 24-48 hours of notification of death, a Veteran Service Agent or a Veteran Service Team Manager reaches out to family member(s);
  • An offer of condolence is extended;
  • A condolence letter is mailed;
  • Supports and resources are offered to family members such as:
  • Suicide File Review - an Issues and Relations Officer checks for recent contact with the Veteran, confirms if any Mental Health follow up or intervention was needed and confirms the benefits and services that were being received.

A discussion on this debrief was held and several comments and suggestions were made by the Advisory Group members. This included:

  • Extending VAC Assistance Service coverage beyond the existing one year timeframe and expand it so that family members are not limited to services from a psychologist past one year mark.
  • Challenge of communication of benefits and services and reception, accessibility needs in receiving the information (Salute messages, social media and web links are not accessible to all).
  • Family members and caregivers should be given the choice to receive counselling support outside of the Employee Assistance Program.
  • Family members should have access to VAC and the benefits and services available to them.
  • This Advisory Group should collaborate with the Advisory Group on Families, as this topic of priority overlaps.

Supports and mental health impacts of Veterans (and their families) affected by substance use disorders

The VAC Co-Chair introduced Julie Drury, Director, Mental Health, Health Professionals Division with Veterans Affairs Canada, who provided an update on the work plan that her directorate has put together to develop a more in depth understanding of substance use, misuse and disorder, starting with alcohol. A discussion was held amongst the members with several comments including:

  • Veterans being diagnosed properly and noting the difference between PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injuries.
  • Focusing on alcohol first is a good strategy as it is viewed by the group, as the most problematic substance use disorder.
  • VAC should work with the Operational Stress Injury clinics, to assess and treat alcohol use disorder.
  • Clinicians should be used as a first step in intervention regarding substance use disorder
  • Ensure that clinicians and researchers looking to better understand the intersection between mental health, addiction and chronic pain have Military/Veteran cultural competency training.
  • Veteran Family Telemedicine Service (Maple) connects medically released Veterans and their families, to a national network via secure text messaging, audio or video.
  • Barriers surrounding access to care and outpatient services; if VAC owned a community service rather than relying on other community services it could lead to direct access and greater care.
  • Administrative issue for Veterans leaving service - more SCAN seminars could assist with reducing this burden and therefore a reduction of substance use.
  • Maintain ready access for Veterans - transition and seminars communication; this information to be used at the right time and to be accessible throughout their care and journey.

National Stakeholder Summit / Women Veterans Forum 2024

Members offered feedback on both the Stakeholder Summit and Women Veterans Forum 2024 which included:

  • Liked that summit occurred.
  • One member noted the impact of the safety that was created in the space that attendees felt very open to share about their lived experiences in such a public forum, and openness to share their ideas in a very vulnerable way.
  • Agreement that it was positive that VAC was able to facilitate those raw conversations.
  • The networking was great, they learned a lot, and the event was well organized
  • Would encourage more group networking/conversations with the Ministerial Advisory Groups for future summits.
  • Efforts were made for everyone to feel like a Veteran; but some felt there was a disconnect on modern Vets.
  • Should be more Veteran-centric.
  • At a prior summit there was a tech group available; access to My VAC Acct, etc.
  • In the future, more discussions and time on workshops and groups would be beneficial.
  • Would like to see a local networking event in the evening, with different booths of knowledge and education.
  • Enjoyed the tribal dancing.
  • Options for post 4 PM activities could be considered in future, with more time during the day for issues and concerns.
  • One member noted that while they liked the Women’s Forum, more could be done for reservists to feel part of the conversations.

Closing remarks and next steps

The VAC Co-Chair thanked all of the members for the great discussions. There was a lot of information and suggestions offered today, that could be folded into the report recommendations to the Minister before the end of May 2024.

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