But Ottawa says 'variety of programs available to family members,' including family peer support
It would take a change in legislation to improve access to mental health services for family members of veterans in Canada, according to the country’s veterans ombudsperson.
In 2021, the veterans watchdog released a report which called on the federal government to "ensure that family members, including former spouses, survivors and dependent children, have access to federal government funded mental health treatment in their own right”.
The report also called for Ottawa to ensure their access does not depend on whether the veteran was in treatment.
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) agreed with the recommendation more than three years ago. However, very little has changed since, said Ombudsperson Nishika Jardine, according to a CBC report.
The recommendation has not been implemented largely because ensuring wider access to those services would require changes to legislation, Jardine said in a new retrospective report on Wednesday, according to CBC.
"The department, with all credit to them, they do what they can for families within the boundaries of the [current] legislation," Jardine said in the report.
Earlier this year, VAC unveiled a new initiative aimed at enhancing employment opportunities for veterans.
Issues with access to mental health for veterans’ families
The federal government imposed restrictions on access to mental health counselling for families of veterans over five years ago, following the case of convicted killer Christopher Garnier, a son of a veteran who obtained taxpayer-funded treatment for post-traumatic stress, according to CBC.
And now, the issues around veterans’ families’ access to mental health services is widespread across the country, said Jardine.
"We hear heartbreaking stories of family members who have mental health needs that can be directly linked to their service as a military family, and if the veteran isn't in treatment, or doesn't want treatment, or doesn't want their family to be involved in their treatment, then they're they're kind of left out in the cold," she said.
On top of that, the veterans’ families lose access to mental health services after a veteran passes away or if the strain of military service leads to separation and divorce.
"When there's a family breakdown, the children are no longer covered," said Jardine. "The family is no longer covered because they're no longer part of the veteran's family. So that is something you don't even think about, but all of a sudden there's a door slammed shut because they're no longer related to that."
When CBC asked about this issue, a spokesperson for Ginette Petitpas Taylor, minister of veteran affairs, said that there are a variety of programs available to family members, including up to 20 hours of psychological support and family peer support.
"When it comes to more complex recommendations, including those that may require legislative changes, VAC explores these in consultation with the ombud and veterans groups and will continue to collaborate on these," Isabelle Arseneau, press secretary for the minister, said in a media statement, according to CBC.
Recently, the Canadian and Ontario governments announced that they are investing $538,00 through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to expand the delivery of mental healthcare services to Ontario’s agricultural workers through its Farmer Wellness Initiative.
