National Defence committee  In some cases they are. You would have seen media reports earlier this year where the Canadian Army has instituted the same policy in their units. If they are not signing a form, it is definitely part of their briefings and the orders appear in Canadian Forces documentation. In the JPSU, it's just since we have people who are unwell, who are less likely to go read those documents, we want to inform them for their own protection.

National Defence committee  Anything that helps someone communicate is a positive, there's no doubt about that, because we don't want those with PTSD to be in their homes barricaded, not communicating with anyone. And if that first step is to a computer, that's just wonderful.

National Defence committee  It is not restrictive per se, it is guidance. It's Canadian Forces policy in dealing with the media in general. What we ask people to do in dealing with the media is to respect their areas of expertise. So if it's something that's not in your area, you should not be discussing it because you do not have the knowledge to do so.

National Defence committee  Again ma'am, the medical component of the armed forces has nothing to do with the JPSU. We work together, but we are distinct.

National Defence committee  Yes, they have.

National Defence committee  Yes, there have.

National Defence committee  I would like to clarify it first. We did not restrict people from speaking in social media or voicing an opinion. What we have done is strictly.... For everyone in the armed forces, commanding officers have a responsibility to inform them of the Canadian Forces social media policy and policy in dealing with the media and outside organizations in general.

National Defence committee  No, they were not. What the form does is inform them what the Canadian Forces policy is with respect to social media. It reminds them of that. We simply had them sign the form to indicate that they understand the policy.

National Defence committee  They are trained by a psychologist, who trains them on a number of fronts. It's not a clinical program, so they are not trained to provide treatment. What they are trained in is to listen and to guide the discussion with individuals and groups—we offer groups sessions in OSISS as well.

National Defence committee  The actual programs and their delivery are done by the staff in the integrated personnel support centres, but OSISS is a key player, in that the peer support coordinators have left the armed forces themselves. They have lived the transition experience and they can inform the person of what they can expect, how they may react, how they may feel as they're leaving, and that sense....

National Defence committee  I am.

National Defence committee  There is full availability. We do provide that service through the base personnel selection officer. We also have a coaching capability through the military employment transition program with Canada Company. The service is free of charge. I'd have to see the particulars of this case, but there would be no reason for anyone to be denied that service.

National Defence committee  I'll start with the OSISS question if you don't mind.

National Defence committee  We've seen great success with OSISS. The most important thing that OSISS does is to get people into treatment, because very often a person is reluctant to seek that treatment, but when they speak to someone who was in the same place they are now, who guides them into the treatment gateway, that gets them into the helping hands they really need to help them start on the road to recovery.

National Defence committee  We are very much a team. The program manager for the OSISS program at the moment, Major Carl Walsh, has a master's degree in social work. In addition to managing and leading the program, he also has that capacity to assist them when there are mental health issues at play or to help the staff with resiliency.