Minister of Veterans Affairs participates in Finale of Heroes are Human PTSD Awareness Tour

TORONTO, July 18, 2014 /CNW/ -The Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of Veterans Affairs, participated in the closing ceremonies for the Heroes are Human PTSD Awareness Tourthat wrapped up today in Toronto.

The Heroes are Human PTSD Awareness Tour, led by the Tema Conter Memorial Trust, travelled to 48 cities and towns across our country in an effort to raise public awareness about mental health. The aim of this initiative is to ease the suffering of our brave men and women who may be living with post-traumatic stress disorder due to their service in the public safety, military and correctional services sectors.

  Quick Facts

• VAC has a well-established national network of more than 4,800 mental health professionals, including psychologists, social workers and mental health nurses, who deliver mental health services to Veterans with PTSD and other operational stress injuries (OSIs).
• VAC and the Department of National Defence have a joint network of 17 operational stress injury clinics, including 10 specialized clinics established by VAC.
• On May 27, 2014, Minister Fantino announced an investment of up to $500,000 in support of a pilot project to assess the benefits and risks of using psychiatric service dogs to assist in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Veterans.
• On July 3, 2014, Minister Fantino announced that VAC is partnering with Veterans Emergency Transition Services (VETS) Canada to better deliver assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to Veterans in need. The partnership is based on a 12-month contract, valued at approximately $300,000, and includes two one-year options to extend the contract period to three years in total.

Quotes

"Our government is proud to support initiatives such as the Heroes are Human PTSD Awareness Tour that help to raise awareness about mental health and PTSD, and ease the suffering of men and women who are bravely serving our country." 
The Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of Veterans Affairs

"We are honoured to welcome Minister Fantino to our finale event. We are grateful for his support, and hope his example will encourage others to recognize this very important cause."
Vince Savoia, founder and executive director of the Tema Conter Memorial Trust

Associated Links

• Mental health services, support and information
• Minister Fantino announces service dogs pilot project to support Veterans with PTSD
• Government of Canada Supports Bell Let's Talk Day for Mental Health

SOURCE: Veterans Affairs Canada

Barbara Mottram, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs, 613-996-4649; Media Relations, Veterans Affairs Canada, 613-992-7468