Canadian soldiers struggling with mental health issues will have new options to connect with counsellors and therapists over long distances, and to receive cutting-edge treatment for the invisible injuries they often suffer as a result of their service.
The new initiatives were announced Tuesday, as Defence Minister Peter MacKay and George Cope, president and CEO of Bell Canada, launched the new $1 million Bell True Patriot Love Fund in Ottawa.
The fund is being financed through a partnership between Bell, of which CTV is a subsidiary, and the True Patriot Love Foundation.
"Over the next four years this $1 million fund will contribute to the health and well-being of our military families," MacKay said.
"This money will complement the Department of National Defence's own significant efforts in the area of mental health care and rehabilitation."
The fund will distribute $250,000 annually, in the form of grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, to support community-based mental health programs.
"This is an issue in which partnerships and collaborations have become so important in bringing these issues out of the shadows and into public discussion, and on the road to healing," MacKay said.
MacKay also announced two new initiatives designed to tackle mental health challenges in the military.
A "tele-mental health network" will be established, incorporating a system of 90 high-definition desktop video conference stations.
MacKay said the network will "make it easier for Canadian Forces members and their families who live in remote areas with limited service to engage with specialized mental health professionals working in clinics elsewhere in Canada."
"The network will help overcome the barriers of distance and travel time that many military members experience when seeking care. It is designed to assist, to bridge the gap between patients and caregivers and it will act as the conduit for a wide range of services like diagnosis, counselling, consultation and education," MacKay said.
MacKay also announced a cutting-edge virtual reality initiative known as "Bravemind therapy" that is currently being tested in the military.
He said it is a tool that "uses state of the art technology to help people with post-traumatic stress -- effectively helping people come to terms with their traumatic experiences in a safe environment. It speaks to a younger demographic who have traditionally had a higher dropout rate from conventional treatment."
