The Quebec Veterans Foundation is proud to help empowering women veterans to live in dignity.
This assistance program for women veterans is funded by the Barry F. Lorenzetti Foundation, VAC, Tenaquip and Pratt&Whitney. The Quebec Veterans Foundation is responsible for its development and administration.
With this initiative, we aim for our contribution to reduce the rate of isolation and suicide among women veterans by encouraging organizations to provide resources that are tailored to their unique needs. In transitioning to civilian life, women veterans must have access to a support system that reflects their reality.
Goals
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The Women Veterans Program encourages the development and offering of wellness activities specifically designed to meet the unique needs of Quebec women veterans, as they experience the challenges of the transition from military to civilian life.
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A platform will be created to centralize resources exclusively dedicated to women veterans.
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The Women Veterans Program will support and disseminate research that will address women veteran specific challenges and needs to optimize their transition to civilian life.
LONG-TERM CARE FOR VETERANS AT STE. ANNE’S HOSPITAL
INJURIES RELATED TO OPERATIONAL STRESS INJURY (OSI AND PAIN MANAGEMENT CLINICS) AT STE. ANNE’S HOSPITAL
Outpatient OSI Clinics
There are two outpatient clinics treating operational stress injuries (OSI); the primary is located in Ste. Anne’s Hospital and the other is a satellite office located in Longueuil. These clinics are exclusively dedicated to veterans. Their injuries can be physical in nature requiring pain management or be related to mental health issues, such as PTSD.
They serve over 1,200 patients from all over the province. Out-of-town patients can stay at Edith’s House, a small guest house on hospital grounds, which is operated by the Foundation.
Residential OSI Clinic
The only residential clinic for Canadian veterans with an OSI is also located in Ste. Anne’s Hospital. It accommodates up to 10 residents at a time and serves approximately 55 patients per year.
Treatment includes programs for stabilization and/or rehabilitation and takes place over periods ranging from four (4) weeks to four (4) months.
While the Foundation has succeeded in funding renovations to the facilities, further improvements are needed (patients’ bedrooms, therapy, and social rooms).
In addition to social outings that are part of the treatment, the Foundation funds art, pet, and yoga therapy.
We look forward to growing these programs to include outdoor and indoor sports activities, and equine therapy.
WHAT IS AN OPERATIONAL STRESS INJURY?
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of veterans suffer from regular nigtmares
An Operational Stress Injury (OSI) is a non-clinical term used to describe a psychological injury that may include anxiety, depression, PTSD, and substance abuse. An OSI can develop following a traumatic event, combat, grief or loss, high-stress situations or operational fatigue.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological response to the experience of intense traumatic events, particularly, those that are life-threatening. It can affect people of any age, culture or gender. It causes intrusive symptoms such as re-experiencing the traumatic event, vivid nightmares, flashbacks, or thoughts of the event that seem to come from nowhere. They often avoid things that remind them of the event.
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Veterans who suffer nightmares frequently are 84% more likely to commit suicide
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Veterans who suffer nightmares occasionally are 33% more likely to commit suicide
THE SENTINELS OF THE STREET
Old Brewery Mission
The ambitious program “Sentinels of the Street” was launched in May 2017 and is managed by Old Brewery Mission.
The program provides food, shelter, and the necessary psychosocial support to help the homeless veterans rebuild and reintegrate into their communities.
Veterans Affairs Canada graciously provided much of the necessary funding for the program since its inception. The Foundation is proud to be a major pillar and has committed to sponsoring this program until 2021.
VETERANS TRANSITION NETWORK
When re-entering the civilian world, many veterans are struck by the relative lack of camaraderie, structure, goals, and responsibility. It’s not unusual to end up feeling isolated and alone as a result.
Since its inception, the Veterans Transition Program (VTP) has maintained the belief that soldiers are best served by other soldiers. The researchers found that many of the veterans they worked with were reluctant to participate in programs or access resources that were provided by the government or military, for fear that their information would not be kept confidential. Many veterans fear the repercussions an operational stress injury could have on their military record and future career prospects. Thus, it was essential to ensure the VTP would protect a veteran’s confidentiality and, even though grants were sought to enable the growth of the program, the Veterans Transition Network (VTN) would remain an independent organization. Now, the VTN is working on expanding its borders. To date, the VTP has helped over 850 veterans in 9 provinces and counting. In addition to the original program, they provide services for RCMP officers, female veterans, and bilingual French/English speakers.
Our primary reason for being over the past 20 years has been to support the Second World War and Korean War veterans who are long-term residents at Ste. Anne’s Hospital. Our offices are still located at the hospital, and we are privileged to be close to the heroes who inspire us every day. Once federally operated, the hospital served 460 patients in this group, but in 2016, with a diminishing number of veterans, the hospital was transferred to provincial management, and, a civilian population was admitted to the hospital. Today, there are approximately 75 veterans in long-term care for whom we still provide therapeutic interventions, which are proven to reduce isolation and stimulate cognitive activity through animal visits, art, humour, music, and social activities (bingos, concerts, etc.).
Thanks to donations from Legions, we were able to fund the purchase of 25 new lifts to replace older equipment often out for repairs. There are also a number of veterans who participate in the Day Visit programs at the hospital by spending time in social activities with their comrades.