Petition Seeks Support For Family Members of Veterans to Receive Mental Health Benefits

Above image: Left to right, funeral of Cpl Jordan Anderson July 14, 2007, at the National Military Cemetery at Beechwood in Ottawa Ontario. Shown are James Anderson and Sheila Anderson, Jordan’s parents and Amanda Anderson Jordan’s widow, left. Official military photograph of Cpl Jordan Anderson, right. Images courtesy of Amanda Anderson.

When Amanda Anderson’s husband, Cpl. Jordan Anderson was killed in Afghanistan on July 4, 2007, her life was forever changed.

What began as a personal quest for healing grew into a quiet battle for every survivor left behind. Anderson has turned her loss into a public advocacy effort. As a recent recipient of the Veterans Ombudsman Commendation, she is advocating for urgent reform to ensure that military and veteran families have access to mental health care in their own right—not only as an extension of the member’s file.

While Anderson has been fighting for over 15 years for survivors, unbeknownst to her, an RCMP spouse, Samara Symonds, launched Petition e-6554 in June. Symonds’ friend experienced the same issues with Veterans Affairs Canada as Anderson and Canadian Armed Forces widows. Within three days of the petition being launched Symonds and Anderson joined forces.

“Once it was launched, we partnered together because it aligned with the efforts I have been making for the last several years,” explained Anderson.

The petition asks for changes that will finally see family members of veterans receiving mental health benefits in their own right.

“The petition asks to put in place the Ombud’s 2021 recommendations, which would allow family members to receive mental healthcare in their own right – independent of the Veteran,” noted Anderson.

She adds in the Obud’s 2024 Spotlight: Progress Update on OVO Recommendations to VAC, Veterans Affairs Canada had accepted the recommendation, “Considering the unique impact of military service on the mental health and well-being of both Veterans and their family members as a result of frequent postings, long and multiple absences, and the inherent risk of military service resulting in illness, injury or death, the Government ensure that family members, including former spouses, survivors and dependent children, have access to federal Government funded mental health treatment in their own right when the mental health illness is related to conditions of military service experienced by the family member, independent of the Veteran’s treatment plan and regardless of whether the Veteran is engaging in treatment.”  However, it has yet to be implemented. 

A Widow’s Journey From Loss to Advocacy

In the months after Jordan’s death, Anderson found herself navigating not just the weight of grief but also a system ill-equipped to care for those left behind. She turned to informal peer groups for support, trading stories with other widows and survivors who quietly carried the same struggle.

“I listen and talk with Canadian military widows every day – both service-related deaths and non-service-related deaths. I believe this gives me both a deep and current up-to-date understanding of the problems experienced by our small segment of the wider military community.

“I do this for the other survivors. In the midst of unfathomable grief, they need a friend who truly understands what it means to lose ‘their person’.

That loss impacts every single aspect of your life. Nothing in your life remains unscathed by loss,” notes Anderson.

While the Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) provide extensive programming for serving members and veterans, survivors’ access remains inconsistent, limited, and tethered to bureaucratic eligibility criteria.

The Unequal Care Gap

The Office of the Veterans Ombud (OVO) has been raising this alarm for years. In 2021, Ombudsman Colonel (Ret’d) Nishika Jardine released a report on mental health care for families of veterans, calling the situation a “priority issue.” The report found families were often left out of treatment, or forced to navigate fragmented provincial systems, even though their well-being directly affects the veteran’s recovery.

“There are very few survivor-specific services in the military community. There is very little information on how to navigate VAC as a survivor. There was no representation at VAC at the advocacy level for survivors. We are still part of the military family, however, as a survivor, we have a unique experience dealing with VAC, and alongside that are distinct challenges,” explained Anderson.

Currently, Veterans Affairs Canada benefits apply only when a Veteran is there to attend therapy and advocate for family members to receive independent treatment. When that Veteran is out of the picture, due to death, divorce or any other number of reasons, families lose access to those benefits.

On Sept. 23, Veterans Ombud Colonel (Ret’d) Nishika Jardine testified before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA), urging MPs to take action.

“We must stop asking families to shoulder this burden without support,” she told parliamentarians.

Action Through Legislation

Since survivors of the fallen often fall through the cracks, widows like Anderson and other spouses and children are backing a national petition calling for a legislative fix. The petition urges Parliament to amend legislation so families can access mental health services independent of the veteran’s file.

“I hope that the petition is received in the non-partisan manner that it should be. Mental health treatment benefits for military families – including war widows and orphans – is not a partisan issue,” commented Anderson.

The petition requires 500 signatures to be formally tabled in Parliament. Supporters hope it will spark cross-party consensus on what they call a “non-partisan issue with human stakes.”

It’s Somebody Else’s Problem Until It’s Not

Anderson urges members of the military and veteran families to stand up with survivors in support of this petition and other similar initiatives.

“I ask your readers, what services do families want to be able to rely upon if any of these events suddenly occur in their lives?

“This affects every CAF and RCMP family. Any family can suddenly be thrust into an unexpected situation – divorce, abandonment, substance abuse or death.”

Members of the military and veteran community, as well as regular Canadians, are being asked not only to sign the petition but also to write to their member of parliament.

No matter the outcome of the petition, however, Anderson says she will continue to fight the fight for military and veteran families. Her hope is that over 5,000 Canadians sign the petition.

“I plan to continue volunteer working with CAF/VAC/OVO to improve policies to support survivors and military families…And I’ll continue to keep listening to survivors’ heartbreaking stories of loss and love.”

 Sign Petition and join community by following the below links:

• To sign e-Petition 6554, click here. Once you sign the petition you will need to verify your signature by responding directly to a House of Commons verification email.
• Join the community fighting to make a change here.

The petition is currently open for signatures until Oct. 15.