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Research project to support military families of veterans

Vicki L Morrison November 26, 2014

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At the fifth annual Canadian Military and Veteran Health Research Forum Member of Parliament for Etobicoke Centre Ted Opitz announced the government is investing $25,000 for a new research project to assess how operational stress injuries (OSI) affect the mental health of spouses and children of Canadian veterans..

The Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research will be conducting the research to examine the challenges and opportunities for families living with veterans with an OSI such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“This funding begins to respond to a critical area of military and veteran health research, that of veteran’s spouses and children. This funding will make an important contribution to advancing our foundational knowledge about the impacts on spouses and children once military personnel transition out of active service,” explained Dr. Alice Aiken, director of Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research.

In early October the Minister of Veterans Affairs Julian Fantino announced the Government of Canada is taking action to strengthen support for veterans and their families through the Government Response to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs report, The New Veterans Charter: Moving Forward.

On Sunday Fantino and the Minister of National Defence Rob Nicholson announced new and expanded mental health initiatives for veterans, serving military members, and their families. These initiatives, which amount to an investment of $200 million, were developed collaboratively by the Department of National Defence, Veterans Affairs Canada and Health Canada.

“Our Government is proud to partner with the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research to gain a better understanding of the mental health challenges faced by families of veterans. To ensure that veterans and their families receive the support and recognition they deserve, the importance of research, and building research partnerships, cannot be overstated,” said Fantino.

The Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research engages existing academic research resources and facilitates the development of new research, research capacity and effective knowledge translation. With a network of academic researchers from across Canada, it serves as the hub for 34 Canadian universities who have agreed to work together in addressing the health research requirements of the Canadian military, veterans and their families.