Frequent moves, training and deployments that take the serving parent from home are a part of military family life. But they can increase the risk factors for mental health issues for their non-serving parents and children.

Access to mental health care is a concern for military families across Canada. While serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have access to CAF health and medical services wherever they are, their spouses and children do not. When a family moves to a new province to follow the serving spouse, they have to enrol in a new health system and find a new family doctor.

In fact, military families are four times less likely to have a family doctor than civilian families. This lack of access to timely care is unfortunately coupled with the higher prevalence of mental health problems among military families than their civilian counterparts. Without direct access to health care like the military, there are often delays in their diagnosis.

When families are dealing with mental health challenges, access to care is vital, whether it’s a getting an initial referral or managing medication prescribed by a doctor in another province.

This can make military families dependent on ERs and walk-ins for health care, which hinders access to coordinated care, particularly in the area of mental health. Families often find themselves at the bottom of waiting lists.

This is where Bagotville Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) is taking the lead. By partnering with local mental health clinics to offer referrals and evaluations, the MFRC is working to increase the accessibility and continuity of mental health care for military families.

“When families have to move it can be hard to find a doctor, and in our region, English-language services are particularly hard to find,” says Danielle Valmera Michaud, Strategy and IDEA Advisor at Bagotville MFRC, which is part of CFB Bagotville, an RCAF base located about 200km north of Québec City. “Accessibility to services means providing care and services where and when families need it.”

With support from the Bell True Patriot Love Fund, Bagotville MFRC is partnering with area clinics and covering the families’ costs of referral and evaluation; families can then use their insurance to cover other costs like diagnosis and treatment.

Bagotville MFRC’s counsellors carry out a psychosocial assessment of each family requesting assistance then make referrals to this program if additional help is required.

“This initiative has allowed us to help military families get the mental health support and services that they need. It is reassuring to know that we can have trusted partners that take families in a more timely manner. It is concrete way to make a difference.” – Bagotville MFRC counsellor

Last year Bagotville MFRC was able to refer 33 family members to mental health services for faster care and they anticipate similar numbers in 2025.

Some of the services provided through this partnership include medical consultation for medication related to mental health; psychological support services; testing for ADHD, autism, anxiety issues and behavioural issues; and medical referrals to professionals in the health care system for evaluation and treatment services.

“By partnering with local clinics, we have been able to reduce wait times for families by months,” says Valmera Michaud.

“The process was incredibly fast and helpful. The services that we have received for our three children were just what we needed. We felt like we were heard and valued as a military family.”

“This access is particularly important for kids – transitioning to a new community can get tricky,” she says. “ADHA, ADD, autism and anxiety diagnoses need to be re-assessed but these children can’t join waiting lists. By covering the initial costs of referral and evaluation, we can get them into the system sooner.

“With support from True Patriot Love, we’ve been able to do so many little things that make a difference. We’re able to get creative with how we can help people.”