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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Project Statement
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Primary Research
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Secondary Research
8
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Objectives
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User Definition
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Mandate Letter
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Description of Deliverables
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Implementation Plan
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Appendix
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54 SINCE THE END OF THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN
PROJECT STATEMENT E
arlier this year, Justin Trudeau erected a
in people who desperately need assistance with
monument to Canadian soldiers who made
their mental health being sent back into the fray
the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan before the
or neglected upon their return home. A society
mission was pulled out. Among the many names
of ‘toughness’ results in the stigmatization
listed on the monument, you won’t find the name
of mental illness, that soldiers who have
Scott Smith. You won’t see Jamie McMullin, or
been trained to endure the most brutal of
Ron Andersen. These men died because of the
environments could not possibly suffer from
war in Afghanistan, but because they died after
something that is all in your head -- seeking
their return, their sacrifices aren’t recognized
mental health resources become out of the
as casualties of war. They died because of
question for people who have been convinced
untreated post-traumatic stress disorder, from
that these problems cannot be real.
the neglect of Canada’s military, and because of
the stigma of being mentally ill in our society.
needs to be fixed to help Canada’s finest.
They committed suicide, and this men are just
Veteran Affairs resources need to become
a few of many of Canada’s forgotten casualties.
more accessible and receive more funding to
Since the end of the war in Afghanistan, 54
address a problem that has become larger than
veterans have committed suicide as a result of
anyone had considered. The military needs to
trauma they received in war. Countless more
reassess and reinvigorate the services they
have attempted, and the number of completed
provide for those who have been traumatized
suicides is skewed because the military does
by their experiences in war, and enforce
not gather information on the deaths of
treatment when necessary. Finally, and most
veterans after war. A struggling Veteran Affairs
importantly, Canada needs to address mental
system cannot support the number of veterans
health stigmatization and end the culture of
who seek help, with some being turned away
silence around the veteran suicide epidemic.
to disastrous results. Military oversight results
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VETERANS COMMITTED SUICIDE AS A RESULT OF TRAUMA THEY RECEIVED IN WAR.
These trends point to how the system
The real count has been
kept secret.2 1 D’Aliesio, Renata , “The Unremembered.” The Globe and Mail, August 26. 2016, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/veterans/article26499878/ 2 “Ibid.”
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PRELIMINARLY RESEARCH 1.
Over the last four years, more canadian soldiers have succumbed to suicide than combat: 3
WAR
3.
In a 2003 national study, 77% of all Canadian (Second World War and Canadian Armed Forces) Veterans rated their mental health as good or very good, higher than the 72% rate for non-Veterans.6
SUICIDE
1 29 2.
4.
5.
No stats for veterans; these ones are all for actively serving soldiers. Why don’t these counts matter? 4
“Soldiers whose suicides occur after their Afghanistan service are not recognized inthe same way as those killed in the war. They are not part of Canada’s Afghanistan Memorial Vigil – which includes plaques commemorating soldiers and Canadian civilians who died in the mission” 5
6.
In a 2010 study of Veterans who released from service between 1998 and 2007, about 24% reported they had a diagnosed mental health condition such as PTSD, depression or anxiety. Of those with a diagnosed mental health condition, 95% also had a chronic physical health condition.7
Veterans of Canada’s Armed Forces who have been diagnosed with mental illnesses are being told they must wait several months before the federal government will pay for psychological counselling.8
3 D’Aliesio, Renata , “The Unremembered.” The Globe and Mail, August 26. 2016, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/veterans/article26499878/ 4 “Ibid.” 5 “Ibid.” 6 “Understanding Mental Health.” Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/veterans/article26499878/ 7 “Understanding Mental Health.” Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/veterans/article26499878/ 8 Galloway, Gloria, “Veterans with mental health are forced to wait months for treatment coverage”Globe and Mail,July 13.2016, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/veterans-with-mental-illnesses-forced-to-wait-months-for-treatment-coverage/article30900508/?service=mobile
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7.
A Globe and Mail investigation found that at least 62 soldiers and veterans have taken their lives after returning from the gruelling Afghanistan mission. Some of them were receiving medical treatment. 9
8.
Former Captain Matthew Quist had to wait 4 months before his treatment was funded10
9.
During document processing time, there is no interim assistance or counselling11
10.
Veterans have been using medical marijuana for both mental and physical self rehabilitation12
11.
Trevor Hands, the owner of a medical marijuana shop in Kingston sees veterans as his biggest customer. 13
12.
“If a veteran tells another veteran about something that is working for disability, you can be guaranteed that they will tell a hundred other vets.’’13
13.
“If a veteran tells another veteran about something that is working for disability, you can be guaranteed that they will tell a hundred other vets.’’13
8 Galloway, Gloria, “Veterans with mental health are forced to wait months for treatment coverage”Globe and Mail,July 13.2016, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/veterans-with-mental-illnesses-forced-to-wait-months-for-treatment-coverage/article30900508/?service=mobile 10 “Ibid.” 11 “Ibid.” 12 Press,Jordan , “ Veterans Affairs Data: Medical Marijuana Use Increases When Cannabis Shops, Clubs Are Accessible.” Huffpost Living, May 9.2016, http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/09/05/medical-marijuana-veterans-canada_n_11868554.html 13 “Ibid.”
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SECONDARY RESEARCH
EMPATHY MAP
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SECONDARY RESEARCH
IDEAS
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SECONDARY RESEARCH
JOURNEY MAP
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OBJECTIVES • Veteran Affairs resources need to become more accessible and receive more funding to provide more resources to the veterans who seek them. • The military needs to reassess and reinvigorate the services they provide for those who have been traumatized by their experiences in war, and enforce treatment when necessary. • Canada needs to address mental health stigmatization and end the culture of silence around the veteran suicide epidemic.
USER DEFINITION “Any former member of the Canadian Armed Forces who successfully underwent basic training and is honourably released.”14
14 “Definition of a Veteran.” Government of Canada, http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/about-us/definition-veteran
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SECONDARY RESEARCH
PERSONA
JEFF GREENE
AGE 47 Living Situation Lives alone in a Bungalow in Fredrickton Suburbs
Family Structure Divorced father of 2 children
Occupation Highschool Diploma
Concerns Well-being of family Declining Health Alcohol addiction PTSD treatment
Aspirations Reunite with his family, recover from mental and physical ailments, and retire peacefully 16
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DELIVERABLES •
Standardized mental health education
•
Dispelling of stigma throughout the
for all Veteran Affairs/military personnel,
military by eliminating officials who
developed by psychiatrists, for thorough
perpetuate stigma, cessation of
and compassionate care.
punishments and pay reduction as a result of the diagnosis of a mental
•
Reallocation of funds to accommodate
health issue, and compassionate
as many veterans seeking care as
handling of individuals after a crisis.
possible. Why are funds being used on “Canada Remembers” when we’re losing
•
veterans to suicide?
Veterans should consistently be made aware of resources available to them if they ever experience a mental health
•
Veterans should be evaluated, often
crisis. Military personnel, Veterans
and thoroughly, by trained military
Affairs employees and doctors should
personnel during their tour and upon
be educated on these resources and
discharge. They should be asked
provide literature to all interested
questions about their mental state and
individuals.
experiences which could be considered traumatic by the individual. Because
•
Work to dispel myths about what kind of
of mental health stigma in the military,
people suffer from mental illnesses, and
these answers might not be honest;
theperception that it is cowardly to seek
therefore, all aspects of an individual’s
help.
experience in the military should be considered to reduce the chance of the individual suffering in silence.
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IMPLEMETATION PLAN
Description of each site’s setting: What type of setting (e.g., a school, community organization, clinic, other)? Veteran Affairs hospitals, doctor’s offices, military facilities.
Goal of the program: What does this program hope to achieve?
Recruitment strategy for clients at each site: Specify how the
Reduced veteran suicides and increased
clients will be made aware of this program.
accessibility to mental health resources
Veterans should consistently be made aware of resources available to them if they ever experience a mental health crisis. Military personnel, Veterans Affairs
Number of sites that will be replicating the program model:
employees and doctors should be educated on these resources and provide
What is the total number of sites that will be implementing the program?
literature to all interested individuals.
A many as possible
Add-on activities: Are there other activities that are being added to Identify the facilitators at each site:
the programming?
Who will actually be doing the on-the-groundwork?
Support groups, community outreach, suicide prevention hotlines.
Counsellors, nurses, doctors, volunteers, mental health professionals, military staff,
Proposed plan to provide referrals to health care services: Where will participants be referred? Is an appointment needed? Is a
Staff training: How will staff be trained on the intervention, by
referral letter needed? What is the plan to ensure patient followed
whom, when? Will they be trained on other key factors related to
through on referral?
working with this population (e.g., adolescent development, cultural issues specific to your population)?
Individuals should be referred to Veteran Affairs facilities, or psychological help that is relevant to the problem they are experiencing. If accessing a Veteran Affairs hospital,
Standardized mental health education for all Veteran Affairs and
veterans should be able to access meaningful help through emergency services. If a
military personnel, developed by psychiatrists
referral is needed, such as in the case of going to receive help for a particular issue from a specialist, the hospital should follow up with a phone call to ensure that the individual received care. Many veterans experience a crisis while waiting for assistance, and if a veteran is not heard from, a personal check-in is merited.
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Evaluation: Who is conducting the evaluation? What key questions should be asked and answered? How will those questions be answered? Will sufficient data be collected to provide those answers? Veterans should be evaluated firstly by trained military personnel upon discharge and be asked questions about their mental state and experiences which could be considered traumatic by the individual. Because of mental health stigma in the military, these answers might not be honest; therefore, all aspects of an individual’s experience in the military should be considered to reduce the chance of the individual suffering in silence. Evaluations should also be performed by trained individuals at Veterans Affairs hospitals, and by the individual’s family doctor.
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APPENDIX
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TEAM CONTRACT
BRAIN STORMING
RELATED DATA