National Defence Committee on April 1st, 2014

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

So it's relatively the same numbers then, a 20% increase in client base, a 20% increase in staff and volunteers?

[Col Gerry Blais]

Again, it's probably a little premature to say, but that would be logical.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Now, when you look at all that has been accomplished since 2001, what are the lessons learned over the last 13 or 14 years? As well, what are the successes?

[Col Gerry Blais]

The successes are without a doubt the number of people entering treatment. The numbers in the joint personnel support unit have been going up significantly, but we see that as a positive, not that we want to have injured people, but the fact is that people are actually going out to get the help.

It's the same thing with mental health. They've seen increases in the number of people they're treating, but that's a positive. I think it means that the stigma is reduced, because people are less concerned with going in to get treatment, and OSISS has a huge role to play in that. That is definitely a very positive trend.

Insofar as lessons learned, we've developed much more robust instruments for selecting staff. Before a person who has suffered an operational stress injury is ready to put themselves out there to help others, we have to ensure that they themselves are in the right place to do it. We have worked very hard at developing very robust selection tools to get the right people to help others.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

When you take a look at our OSISS programming compared to what other allies are doing, how do we compare? Have any of our allies mimicked what we're doing? Have there been any best practices that we've adopted from our allies in bringing them into our OSISS program?

[Col Gerry Blais]

To my knowledge, we were the first to develop this program. As it is now, we've provided information to a number of our allies. I'm not aware of others who run a robust publicly funded program such as we do.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

You also mentioned just briefly the helping others by providing empathy program, the HOPE program. Can you talk about how that works?

Also, if you have time, can you talk about the partnerships you have, and not only within Veterans Affairs and JPSU and other arms of the Canadian Armed Forces? We did mention the Veterans Transition Network. I know that there are probably other partnerships out there, like the military family resource centres. Maybe you could talk about those types of partnerships as well.

[Col Gerry Blais]

There are tons of them. Other important ones that we have are a number of charitable organizations that help us out. For example, when we are modifying someone's home, the public has rather generous benefits available to help us do that, but there are always wants that a person would have when they're modifying their home that the crown cannot pay for because they are not needs-based. Well, we have a network of charities that we can make phone calls to.

For example, last week we received a call from the spouse of a veteran with PTSD who was released in 1995. They are in Winnipeg. They felt that with their family being located in Cape Breton, he would move along much better there. We contacted a charity that was willing to pay for that move to get the family to Cape Breton. That network is very promising.

[The Chair, Conservative, Peter Kent]

Thank you, Mr. Bezan.

Thank you, Colonel.

As Mr. Harris did come in under his time, Mr. Larose has asked for one minute for a brief question and answer.

Mr. Larose.

[Jean-François Larose, NDP, Repentigny, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for joining us, Colonel Blais. It is always nice to see you.

We have learned that there was no French-language psychological care in Afghanistan. With that situation in mind, my colleague asked a question about the volunteers.

When we visited Petawawa, we actually met with the volunteers in charge of the program. They said they didn’t know who was going to replace them. There were actually not enough volunteers. So it was a problem.

Earlier, you said that it was impossible to guarantee a mix of francophone and anglophone volunteers, or to make it a requirement. However, that service must be accessible to everyone. If mental health professionals are not accessible and they are replaced by volunteers, but you cannot guarantee that the volunteers are bilingual, we have to agree that there is a problem. A soldier who needs help can end up in an office with a volunteer who is not able to communicate with him as, much as the volunteer wants to help.

Are you trying to solve that problem and ensure that more professionals are available and that the volunteers are there only to provide support, not to do the job of professionals?

[Col Gerry Blais]

That is correct. The volunteers are not in the offices.

[Jean-François Larose, NDP, Repentigny, QC]

The ones we met with were.

[Col Gerry Blais]

Perhaps, but for specific appointments, public servants are the first contact. Once they have assessed the person's situation, they either direct them to a volunteer or keep them as a patient.

[The Chair, Conservative, Peter Kent]

Thank you very much, Colonel Blais and Mr. Larose.

Mr. Bezan.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

I just want to point out that twice now we've heard today about these no-French-for-francophones psychiatrists and mental health workers. Just so the committee knows, there are both. There are English and French psychiatrists, social workers, and mental health workers.

There were no French or English psychologists deployed to Afghanistan. Those needing a psychologist were moved out of theatre and were provided with those services elsewhere.

[The Chair, Conservative, Peter Kent]

Thank you for correcting the record, Mr. Bezan.

Thank you very much, Colonel Blais, for your appearance again before us today.

We will go in camera for committee business.

This meeting is suspended.

[Proceedings continue in camera]