Introduction

Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC) is pleased to present this edu­cational resource as part of our popular public mental health awareness se­ries; Operational Stress Injuries and Other Traumatic Stress: Therapies and Treatments for Veterans.

This important resource could not have been developed without the dedica­tion of Dr. Barbara Everett, PhD in assisting in the researching and writing of this handbook and the members of our advisory panel, along with all those who have contributed their time and effort to this project.

Mental illness affects all Canadians. The overarching message that MDSC wishes to convey in all its work is that recovery from mental illness is possi­ble. This resource book is meant to be a general guide and is not intended to be the “final word” in every area. In delivering this resource to Canadians, our goal is to offer an easy to read resource that provides knowledge and links to assist Veterans and their families.

Mood Disorders Society of Canada wishes to express our sincere gratitude to The Centre of Excellence on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Related Mental Health Conditions who provided funding and support to pro­duce this publication. We greatly value their contribution to this project.

Operational Stress Injuries (OSIs) are “any persistent psychological difficulty resulting from operational duties performed while serving in the Canadian Armed Forces or as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It is used to describe a broad range of problems which include diagnosed psy­chiatric conditions such as anxiety disorders, depression, and post-traumat­ic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as other conditions that may be less severe, but still interfere with daily functioning.” ¹

The term OSI is not a medical or diagnostic term itself, and there is great variability in how people use it.
This educational resource describes how OSIs are comprised of PTSD, de­pression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. It also briefly describes other potential sources of OSIs such as military sexual trauma, discrimination and other forms of oppression and moral injury.

The mental illnesses associated with OSIs are discussed in detail along with helpful therapies. Treatment for substance use disorders is acknowledged as an important aspect of recovery.

Families members and Veterans have their own struggles. If you are a family member or caregiver, turn to Chapter 5 where the uniqueness of your situa­tions and some sources for help are discussed.

This is a hopeful publication. It ends with a section on relapse prevention strategies and ways to provide yourself with ongoing support.

Recovery is possible.