Veterans Affairs Committee on Feb. 22nd, 2017

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

Good afternoon. I'd like to call the meeting to order.

I apologize to our witnesses. We had a vote at the end of question period, so we're starting about 10 minutes late.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), this is a study of mental health and suicide prevention among veterans. Today's witnesses are from the Department of National Defence. We have Captain Langlois, director of casualty support management; and Commodore Sean Cantelon, director general, Canadian Forces morale and welfare services.

We will start with our 10 minutes of witness statements, and then we will go to questioning.

Welcome, and thank you for coming today. The floor is yours.

[Commodore Sean Cantelon, Director General, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services, Department of National Defence]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. I am Commodore Sean Cantelon.

In my role as director general, morale and welfare services for the Canadian Armed Forces, I am responsible for a range of programs and services in support of the operational readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces, in such areas as fitness, sports, recreation, and health promotion, both on bases and wings in Canada and on deployed operations.

This ranges from financial banking services offered through our SISIP Financial services, to mental health programs and services for Canadian Forces members and their families through “Support Our Troops” funds, including the Soldier On fund, and the military families fund.

I am also the director general and chief of military personnel organization who is responsible for casualty support and transition services on retirement. In this capacity, I worked very closely with retired Brigadier-General Dave Corbould, who developed the JPSU renewal.

Joining me today is Captain(N) Marie- France Langlois, the Director of Casualty Support Management who is also representing the joint personnel support unit. Captain(N) Marie-France Langlois is a former commander of the joint personnel support unit and, in her current capacity, is leading the renewal of transition services for releasing Canadian Armed Forces members.

I am very pleased to speak with you today on the topic of transition programs and services that are available to Canadian Forces members transitioning from military to civilian life. These services and programs are offered jointly by the Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Canada, and are assisted by third-party, not-for-profit organizations.

The CAF approaches the topic of military to civilian transition through a holistic lens, looking at the military community as a whole, inclusive of regular and reserve force members, veterans, and their families. On average, over 10,000 regular and reserve force members transition out of the Canadian Armed Forces every year. Of that number, approximately 16% on average are medically released. This is significant because members who leave the service for medical reasons often require unique services.

There are a number of services available to our members, of which I will highlight just a few. However, before I go on, I would like to say that the majority of programs that I mention are available to all military members, regular or reserve, regardless of reason for their release from the Canadian Armed Forces.

Since 1978, the Canadian Armed Forces have provided transitioning military personnel with a two-day second career assistance seminar, run at each military base and wing. These seminars delve into such topics as: pension and benefits, release proceedings, psychological challenges of transition, and services and benefits administered by Veterans Affairs Canada. An additional one-day seminar is provided specifically for those members medically releasing.

At all seminars, the attendance of spouses is strongly encouraged.

The service income security insurance plan offers benefits to all CAF members leaving the military for medical reasons. These personnel receive income support for up to 24 months, and up to 64 months if they are unable to return to work. Those who leave of their own volition are also eligible for the same benefit if they are deemed totally disabled.

A component of this program is the vocational rehabilitation program, which enables participants to restore or establish their vocational capacity to prepare them for suitable gainful employment in the civilian workforce. This program focuses on releasing CAF members' abilities and veterans' abilities, interests, medical limitations, and the potential economic viability of their chosen plan to help them establish their future. The vocational rehabilitation program support can start up to six months prior to their release from the Canadian Armed Forces.

Similarly, Veterans Affairs also offers a suite of social benefit, income support, and rehabilitation programs. Considerable effort is ongoing to better align and harmonize the Canadian Armed Forces and the Veterans Affairs programs to ensure a seamless transition to civilian life for all CAF members.

Over and above the internal work that I just highlighted, the Canadian Armed Forces also works closely with third-party organizations to assist transitioning members, veterans, and their families. We continue to expand our relationships with multiple educational institutions across the country that have shown an interest in better understanding the qualifications and training of military personnel and offer them advanced standing in assorted academic programs at their institutions.

One example of our partnership is the military employment transition program, which works with more than 200 military-friendly employers to help members find meaningful employment. There are currently over 5,000 registered members and over 1,200 hires. This is in pursuit of their goal of 10,000 jobs in 10 years.

Successful transition to civilian life is a key priority of my organization and is in line with the CAF's comprehensive suicide prevention strategy, which is currently being developed and integrated across a spectrum of initiatives in order to prevent suicides. To help promote effective and efficient transitions, we work closely with Veterans Affairs Canada to remove barriers, raise awareness, provide members and their families with appropriate resources and support, promote research and evidence-based responses, and develop policy, protocols, guidance, and support programs and initiatives.

We are also actively working with Veterans Affairs Canada on improving services to veterans offered by our organizations through a joint national career transition and employment strategy. This strategy takes a whole-of-government approach and anticipates expanding its focus to include other government agencies such as Employment and Social Development Canada, Service Canada, the Public Service Commission and others to leverage existing programs and resources in support of transitioning members and veterans.

The delivery of the Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs transition services is accomplished through the joint personnel support unit, which consists of eight regional headquarters, 24 integrated personnel support centres, and seven satellite locations across the country with a headquarters here in Ottawa. The JPSU serves regular and reserve force personnel and their families, as well as the families of the fallen.

The JPSU and IPSCs are envisioned as a one-stop shop where those who are ill or injured can receive advice, support, and assistance, not only from the military staff who deliver programs and oversee the IPSC, but also from our colleagues at Veterans Affairs, personnel who are co-located with the Canadian Armed Forces at IPSCs.

The CAF is committed to providing improved service delivery for care of the ill and injured, which is why we work in close partnership with Veterans Affairs to enhance programs and services. Veterans Affairs and the CAF are intertwined in many aspects of the service delivery, and personnel from both organizations work together at all levels to provide service and assistance.

Among its other programs, the JPSU is also responsible for the operational stress injury social support program, or OSISS. It is a joint VAC-Canadian Armed Forces program that provides valued peer support to members, veterans, and their families. The goal of OSISS is to ensure that when peers enter the gateway of peer support, they will be able to reap the benefit of support based upon lived experience to help guide them to the programs and services that can assist them on their road to recovery. Since 2001, OSISS has assisted many peers in accepting their new normal.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to appear today. Captain Langlois and I would be pleased to respond to the committee's questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

Thank you.

We'll start with Mr. Kitchen.

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Commodore and Captain, for your service and for being here to talk with us today. I appreciate that.

One of the things we've heard a lot when talking about mental illness is identity loss. I'm wondering if you could tell us.... Is there any point in time, at the JPSU, when identity loss is identified and spoken to?

[Cmdre Sean Cantelon]

I'll ask Captain Langlois, who has commanded the JPSU and can speak best to that to answer.

[Captain, N) Marie-France Langlois (Director, Casualty Support Management, Department of National Defence]

I think the key is to keep the link with the former unit of the military member, if he wishes to do so. That's something we are enhancing to ensure that the communication between the commanders of different operational units across the region is supported, with this approach by the commanding officers in the regions.

It's challenging, for sure, for people who have known physical injury. I think by creating a trust bond with the member we're supporting, we'll be better able to communicate.

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

You mentioned the word “trust”. That appears to be another aspect. We've heard from a lot of our witnesses on the issue of trust.

Again, I go back to identity loss. These soldiers, seamen, and airwomen are saying that they've lost their identity. It has been taken away from them, whether because of a physical injury or a mental injury. I look at things from a health-care point of view. I look at that and say, “Well, how we can advance that? Can we not put this into the program right from the start?”

Earlier, we talked about our service delivery, and providing services right from the moment they enter the forces. Likewise here, when we're talking about treatment and trying to provide that, while looking at identity loss and trust, we must make sure that it comes from CAF and rolls into VAC.

[Cmdre Sean Cantelon]

First, I will touch on some of the changes that Brigadier-General Dave Corbould instituted as commander of the JPSU.

They were very focused on creating that unit identity that we all grow up with in the Canadian Forces—part of the team, part of the unit. We've done that by adjusting the authorities and the sense of the unit. It is a unit in charge of people, and they have the authorities and responsibilities. That creates those bonds that we've all grown up with.

Second, to go back to the larger issue of trust, this comes back to the ongoing dialogue that we're all leading and we've had great success with. It starts at the top with mental health and that it's okay to say, “I didn't have a good day,” and then building that relationship within the culture.

Bell Let's Talk Day may be one day that we embrace in the Canadian Forces, but we are also bringing about a complete culture shift towards the ongoing care of those who are ill and injured, so that the fragility to the unit that you and others have spoken about won't be there. That culture shift is ongoing right now.

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Thank you.

I'm going to ask if you might be able to provide us with some figures.

Can you break down the percentage of people entered into the JPSU who are dealing with mental health issues? Have you done that? Do you have that category at all?

[Capt(N) Marie-France Langlois]

Actually, the joint personnel support unit deals with medical employment limitations. We deal with the prognosis, not the diagnosis, so we're not aware of the actual medical condition of a member. That would be something that the health services of the Canadian Forces may be able to provide.

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Do you track or keep any record of people who have gone through the JPSU who may have committed suicide?

[Capt(N) Marie-France Langlois]

Again, this is tracked through the....

[Cmdre Sean Cantelon]

You heard previous testimony by a witness talking about the Canadian Forces' tracking of personnel on release. That process is centralized through the central registries.

Obviously, if someone's a member of that unit or under the care of that unit at the time, the unit is aware of it. It's not a responsibility of the JPSU to track those. The specifics of those would have to come from elsewhere in the department, but we track the care and feeding of people for whom we're responsible at the time.

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Thank you.

In your presentation, you mentioned a program that is provided to people, basically to educate them on topics of pension benefits, release procedures, and so on.

I remember when I first became a member of Parliament. I went through a two-day force-feeding of information on what goes on here. I found that it was great information—lots of stuff—but it was in one ear and out the other sometimes, and I couldn't put my finger in there fast enough to stop it.

One of my questions to them was if they could do it a second time, maybe a month or two down the road. Is that process involved in—

[Cmdre Sean Cantelon]

Absolutely, two, three, or 10 times. We encourage people to do it a minimum of five years prior to their planned release, and then they can come back and do the next package. We are working on enhancing that package availability. It is an optional process for all members of the Canadian Armed Forces. We run it on every base across the country. I personally have done two, though I'm not releasing tomorrow.

It's exactly the point you have made. To make sure that members don't suffer from, “I thought I heard about that,” they get an opportunity to come back. There's no restriction on the number of times they can go to the SCAN, second career assistance network.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

Thank you.

Ms. Lockhart.

[Alaina Lockhart, Liberal, Fundy Royal, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I find your testimony very interesting. We've talked before in our service delivery study as well. We have conflicting views, I guess, on the JPSU and its functionality. On one hand, we're talking about the fact that it's envisioned as a one-stop shop, and that every door is the right door. We hear from other health care professionals that's the approach many mental health models are taking now. On the other hand, we have this conflicting testimony from others who are saying that it's not functioning well and that people are falling between the cracks.

What are the challenges that you see? Obviously, people are in transition and it's a difficult time for them, but are there any specific areas where we know we can do better? That's really where we see suicide happening. People are falling between the cracks and not responding to some of the services that are available.

[Capt(N) Marie-France Langlois]

I think closing the seam when somebody transitions from CAF to civilian life is very important. We're working very hard with Veterans Affairs to enhance the different programs we have.

Veterans Affairs will be involved earlier in the process, probably when there's a notification of decision of release. We're working at simplifying and reducing the complexity of the paperwork. A pilot is being worked on as well as guided support. It links to the ombudsman's recommendation, where he talked about concierge services. This guided support is interesting.

For example, the JPSU is tailoring the services to the needs of the individual. With this guided support, which will be VAC's responsibility, working jointly with CAF, depending on the need of the individual. If somebody has less complex needs, for example, they'll be able to access the portal. If they need support to complete forms and know what resources are available, then a veteran's service agent would be appropriate. A case manager could be more appropriate for some people with complex transitional needs.

Right now there's a lot of.... We're working in different groups to look at the new transition model. This involves transition early in a career. When we talk about a seminar or network, we're looking at the beginning, the first posting for an individual. He will have training concerning the long-term financial responsibilities, looking at what to look for in personal development training when they eventually transition.

The My VAC Account will be available sooner. A lot of work is being done to enhance that portal.

For sure, there's always space for improvement. We take the comments of the veterans and CAF members very.... It's very important for us to apply them to policy change, programs, and services.

[Alaina Lockhart, Liberal, Fundy Royal, NB]

You spoke about starting to talk about this transition earlier. One of the things we've heard that's been recurring is the loss of identity, so I think it's very important that you do that.

When do we consider earlier? Obviously, those are for planned retirements, and that sort of thing.

[Cmdre Sean Cantelon]

In my organization I touched on SISIP financial services. One of the parts, besides managing that insurance program, is financial counselling and investing advice.

Two years ago we hired David Chilton to do the The Wealthy Barber tour. Now we have one of our executives who's retired military, quite dynamic, he calls his “Pierre's Talk”. He styled it after TED Talks. He's going across the country, educating them on finance. It's a challenge. It's never too late, but it's a heck of a challenge when you arrive 20 years later and say you should have known and done that. These are the ongoing services we're doing to enhance this.

We're very engaged with Veterans Affairs right now to figure out the appropriate times—and we have some trials, which the captain touched on—to inject the guided support to build the person's awareness so it isn't, as your colleague described, too late, too quickly. That should help address the identity piece.

Often, identity comes from a lack of understanding and knowledge. As we demystify this process, which arguably is a bit mystifying.... Many people join the military. First thing after basic training, they don't say, “When I get out”. They usually say, “When I drive my tank” or “go to sea on a ship”.

We want to help deal with all of that. A wide range of activities are ongoing now. We're working with our colleagues at Veterans Affairs to bring out enhancements that can be announced at the appropriate time, once they're through. We've touched on the pilot, and guided support is a classic one.

[Alaina Lockhart, Liberal, Fundy Royal, NB]

I just received this. It's “The Guide to Benefits, Programs, and Services for Serving and Former Canadian Armed Forces Members and their Families”. We haven't seen this before, I don't think. I'm wondering if we can enter it as evidence. It's a relatively new document—from October. How widely is this being used and distributed? Is there an online version of this document?

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

I apologize, but you'll have to make it very short. We're running out of time on this one.

[Capt(N) Marie-France Langlois]

There is an online version. That guide has been updated many times, and we'll make sure that we provide you with a copy.

[Cmdre Sean Cantelon]

It's also provided at all the SCAN seminars. They get to see it there. They go through it, and they're given it in advance.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

Perfect. If you could just send it to the clerk after, we'd appreciate it.

Ms. Mathyssen.