Saint-Jérôme, Quebec
Professor and researcher at the Université du Québec en Outaouais, Dr. Blackburn’s particular interest is the mental health of Canadian Armed Forces members, Veterans and military families. He was the spokesperson for a campaign to raise awareness of operational stress injuries in 2013, in collaboration with the Royal Hospital and the Minister of Veterans Affairs. In 2014, he gave a speech on the mental health of Veterans at the University of Ottawa’s Remembrance Day ceremonies. That same year, Dr. Blackburn began a research project entitled “From Military Life to Civilian Life – The Transitional Issues, Psychosocial Problems and Successes of Veterans.” Author of various articles, Dr. Blackburn has worked in recent years on the military news website 45eNord.ca, the magazine L'Avant-garde and the Canadian Military Journal. He is also regularly asked by the media for his opinion, on and professional analysis of, military and Veterans’ mental health issues. In 2015, he organized a panel discussion on the mental health of military personnel as part of Research Week at the Université du Québec en Outaouais. Dr. Blackburn’s ongoing activities are intended to encourage a better understanding of mental health and to reduce the stigma against Veterans and their families, a cause for which he spares no effort.