National Defence Committee on Nov. 21st, 2013

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Four years ago I was on the health committee doing a health human resource study, and one of the things we learned was that there was not a single clinical psychologist or psychiatrist in the employ of the armed forces at that time. That's only four years ago. Shifts can happen. Potentially community health service that is more proactive for family members as well as injured spouses could be something that is a part of the strategy, but—

[Mark Ferdinand]

It needs to be detailed.

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

What's the next step? What's one single, focused next step?

[Mark Ferdinand]

It's to take those words that say family supports are important, recovery to the individual who we're concerned about is important, and actually articulate more formally. I saw that part of the next steps this strategy articulates is to formalize, for example, a suicide prevention strategy. Right. To formalize a strategy focused on providing family support would be wonderful to see, because right now...I didn't even see that at the end of the document as something that needs to formalized in some way. Who's involved is an open question, but the discussion needs to take place across a number of different partners, quite frankly, at the community level in order for this to really hit home and to make a difference in terms of the health outcomes we're striving for.

[The Chair, Conservative, Peter Kent]

Thank you, Mr. Ferdinand and Ms. Murray.

Before I give the floor to Mr. Bezan for the last five minutes, I have questions for Mr. Dawdy and Mr. Gilmour on the point that you have had trouble connecting with approximately 400 individuals in this, as you said, catchment area, who might avail themselves of your program.

I see among your many sponsors that there is the Legion, and I'm wondering what the relationship is. Might the Legion be a connector with regard to reaching out?

[Clay Dawdy]

We work quite extensively with the legions. They are really behind us 100%, as well as other organizations that are associated with the military, such as the CAV, Canadian Army Veterans. There is also the other organization, True Patriot Love, which has really stepped on board this year. Wounded Warriors is another organization that we have contacts with. We are working with the legions to further those inroads.

By the way, they seem to be having a problem with their membership as well, with getting the young veterans to come into the legions.

Do you have anything else to add, Bob?

[Bob Gilmour]

I think one of the challenges the legions have nationally is that they have this great poppy fund that they do, but the mandate within their poppy fund says it doesn't fit their criteria to help injured soldiers or veterans. I mean, it's a perfect fit, and I think it's something they are looking at.

Regardless, that organization has donated funding to help us supply the services.

[The Chair, Conservative, Peter Kent]

Thank you.

Mr. Bezan.

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

I have one final question, and it plays on what Ms. Murray was asking about: what type of support we're providing to military families. We do have military family resource centres across this country, and I'm thinking from the standpoint of reaching out, as Mr. Gilmour talked about, and having spouses skiing down the hill with their loved ones who are survivors of traumatic injury in the armed forces.

To Mr. Ferdinand and Ms. Steggles, what about your organizations working with the military family resource centres that are set up right across this country to help the spouses and children deal with their loved ones who have returned home and are dealing with all sorts of injuries, both visible and invisible illnesses that they have encountered while in service?

[Mark Ferdinand]

I think right now what happens is there are agreements that exist between different organizations within the community. There are warm hand-offs, as they are called. If someone walks through a single door, they are treated as though they are not walking through the wrong door, and a referral takes place.

That relationship exists already across the country between CMHAs in certain communities and family resource centres and other similar organizations.

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

Ms. Steggles.

[Elizabeth Steggles]

As occupational therapists, we will always, if possible, include the family in whatever we do, because it's integral to who we are. We relate to our families. We relate to our employers, our environment, so we see that we have to work together with families.

In terms of an organization, the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists works with organizations a great deal. We have representatives within organizations. We can certainly arrange to do that. We're member-dependent for our income, but we do have a lot of volunteers who will work with different organizations and represent occupational therapy with those organizations.

I would say that's probably the way to go, and we would certainly facilitate doing something like that.

[Clay Dawdy]

From a recreational perspective, we certainly promote that type of activity. The reality is that there are always funding issues.

We've been able to raise the funds this year. We're on target to support the spouses and the family members as required, but that's an ongoing issue.

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Peter Kent]

Thank you all.

It's been a very informative and a very valuable meeting this morning.

Thank you very much.

The meeting is adjourned.