With respect to the handling of individuals and some of the challenges, it really starts when the members are coming back--from Afghanistan, for example--and they have a decompression time in Cyprus. There are actually DND caseworkers and some people who formerly served in Afghanistan who are there with the men and women before they come back to Canada to identify individuals who may be having particular problems.
So we, working with DND, are looking to see if there are any potential client issues that need to be dealt with right from the very early stages. When the client comes back to Canada, we can immediately work on a case management plan and try, to the greatest extent possible, to have a seamless transition between DND and ourselves. That's why we are present on bases such as Valcartier, Edmonton, Gagetown, and Petawawa. We're also expanding into others to make sure we have that level of service.
In terms of the case managers, the case manager has a multidisciplinary team available that consists of doctors, nurses, and social workers. They have the ability to make referrals, if necessary, depending on the nature of the illness. For example, with PTSD, they'll refer them to an OSSIS clinic for peer support.
So every client has a case plan that is developed by medical and social work professionals to meet the needs of that particular client, with the view of rehabilitation and successful reintegration to continue their military career or in fact to reintegrate back into society if they choose to leave the military. So that's the general process.
The other thing that's important in the process is that the OSSIS peer support is being viewed very, very successfully. I know there was a lot of information in the material, but other veterans administrations around the world are actually looking to this experience in Canada--the success in the OSSIS peer support--as a way of connecting with those particular individuals.