| Recipient: | Canadian Women’s Wellness Initiative |
|---|---|
| Project: | Helping Veterans and their Families Thrive: An Innovative Approach to Family Well-Being |
| Provinces: | Quebec, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Alberta |
| Period: | Fiscal year 2019-2020 |
| Funding: | $48, 715 |
Overview:
The Canadian Women’s Wellness Initiative offered stress reduction training in the form of a transcendental meditation program to Veterans suffering from toxic stress injuries, occupational stress injuries, and PTSD-related symptoms.
Project goals:
The objective of this small pilot study was to verify whether or not participants’ experience decreases their levels of psychological distress, depression, anxiety and anger after training and practicing the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique for a period of three months. An improvement in the relationship between family members was also expected. A second objective was to evaluate the best approach in the recruitment of Veterans and their families for future projects with Veterans Affairs Canada.
Project activities:
Step 1: Partnership and Client Intake
Step 2: Participants attended 12 meetings over a period of six months consisting of:
- an information session introducing the program (one meeting, 1.5 hours);
- instruction in the training (four meetings, 1.5 hours each);
- home practice (20 minutes, twice/day); and
- follow-up (seven meetings over six months, 30–60 minutes each).
Step 3: Analysis of Data
Step 4: Reporting
Project results:
A total of 43 participants (24 Veterans and 19 family members) were recruited, pre-tested, and trained in TM. Thirty-six participants (21 veterans and 15 family members) were retested three months after their initial training.
Veterans had significant reductions in perceived stress, depression, anxiety and anger after only three months of practicing the TM Technique. Family members (including spouses) also experienced significant decreases in their stress and anxiety levels.