Question Period Note: MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR FAMILY MEMBERS

• Care, compassion and flexibility are applied when considering mental health services for family members.

• Veterans Affairs Canada has not made changes to the policy covering mental health services for family members.

• Under VAC treatment and rehabilitation programs, family members may be involved in mental health services when the Veteran’s treating health professional indicates it supports the Veteran’s treatment outcomes or rehabilitation goals.

• Family members can also access help and mental health services that are available at no cost, 24-hours a day, 365 days a year by calling the VAC Assistance Service.

• Family members may qualify for additional mental health services through Operational Stress Injury Social Support, Operational Stress Injury clinics, and the Public Service Health Care Plan.

• We are committed to ensuring Veterans and their families have the mental health support they need. For privacy reasons, we cannot comment on specific cases.

BACKGROUND – MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR FAMILY MEMBERS

The Mental Health (POC 12) Policy describes mental health services that may be funded as part of a Veteran’s treatment or rehabilitation plan, including mental health services for family members. The purpose of providing mental health services to family members is to support the Veteran’s treatment or rehabilitation. The policy has not changed.

Family members can be involved in two types of counselling:
• Family and/or couples counselling (where the Veteran is present)
• Individual or group counselling (where the Veteran is not present)
These services can be provided by licensed: psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists, and counselling therapists.

In March 2020, the Minister instructed that policy be applied using care, compassion and maximum flexibility in all cases. On May 6, 2020, VAC issued a new Guideline indicating:
• Treatment Benefits: family members may be involved in mental health services when the Veteran’s treating mental health professional indicates that it will have a positive impact on the Veteran..
• Rehabilitation Program: family members may be involved in mental health services when the assessing or treating professional identifies it will help meet the participant’s rehabilitation goal.

Additional – Mental Health Services to Veteran’s family members
The Department offers additional mental health services to Veterans’ family members, beyond what is provided under the Treatment Benefits Program or the Rehabilitation Program (Mental Health Policy (POC 12)).

The following are examples of additional mental health supports available to family members:
• Veterans Affairs Canada Assistance Service: a 24/7 toll free number that any Veteran or family member can call to speak with a mental health professional, who will work to match them with a counsellor in the local community. In such a case, the decision to provide services is made by the mental health professional.

Veterans Affairs Canada funds a network of 11 Operational Stress Injury clinics, which provide mental health support and services to Veterans and their families when the Veteran has an operational stress injury. If it looks like treating family member(s) would help progress the treatment of the Veteran, a decision would then be made to do so. Services are based on current best practices and are customized to meet the individual's needs. The team also works closely with health care providers or organizations in the community to help ensure follow-up is available when needed. Family members may also receive or participate in some of the services provided through the clinic.
 

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