Photo: Canadian Press
Help for mental health issues for veterans and their families is coming to Vernon.
The Mainland BC Military Family Resource Center (BCMFRC) is bringing its Mental Health First Aid-Veterans Community to Vernon for the first time.
This free two-day workshop is aimed at family members or service providers who support medically released veterans of the Canadian Forces and RCMP.
Vernon and the North Okanagan region are home to one branch of the Canadian Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans Association, the Vernon Cadet Camp Museum, the 1st British Columbia Dragoon Regiment, and approximately 40 Canadian military personnel on active duty. There are five branches of the Royal Canadian Legion, including the families of.
Additionally, Veterans Affairs Canada's Okanagan Regional Office reported that as of March 2022, there were 2,213 serving veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP.
Mental Health First Aid – Veterans Community is one component of the Veterans Families Program implemented by BCMFRC on behalf of Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC).
The program supports the health and well-being of families transitioning from military to civilian life.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), mental illness affects all Canadians indirectly through family, friends and colleagues, with one in five Canadians personally experiencing a mental health issue or illness each year.
“It's not uncommon to learn standard first aid in preparation for medical emergencies like burns and sprains. The Mental Health First Aid course takes that preparedness to the next level, providing valuable, potentially life-saving information and crisis intervention skills to address mental health issues,” said Tracy Cromwell, BC MFRC Executive Director.
This course covers a variety of mental health issues, including mood, anxiety, trauma-related, and substance use disorders. This course also teaches skills for dealing with drug overdoses, suicidal behavior, panic attacks, psychosis, and acute stress reactions.
The goal of this course is to enable participants to build the skills and confidence needed to have effective conversations about mental health, to be able to recognise the most common mental health issues and illnesses, to increase their comfort level when helping others, and to reduce stigma and discrimination around mental health issues and illnesses.
“Mental health issues can often be subject to significant stigma,” Cromwell says. “That's what's great about Mental Health First Aid – Veteran Community. Because the course is about helping others, participants don't have to worry about standing out as having a problem if they attend. In this way, the course is completely non-threatening for anyone who wants to learn more about addressing these issues.”
The two-day course is designed for medically discharged veterans and those who support the RCMP, but is free and open to anyone.
Participants who complete the course will receive the Mental Health First Aid – Veteran Community certification. The course will be held May 27-28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Best Western Premier Route 97, 5350 Anderson Way.
Space is limited, please contact us by May 23rd to register. [email protected].
