Workplace Reintegration for Veterans With Mental Health Disorders

Transcription

1 1 Workplace Reintegration for Veterans With Mental Health Disorders David Pedlar, PhD Research Directorate Tina Pranger, PhD Mental Health Directorate 4th Canadian Congress for Research and Mental Health in the Workplace October 28, 2009

2 2 Modern Canadian Military Veterans: More than 750,000 (>1 in 30 adults) Transitioning Yearly: ~ 4,300 Reg Force 20% Medical 64,000 24, , , : 94K total 2 1. Park J. A profile of the Canadian Forces. Statistics Canada. Perspectives. July 2008; Veterans Affairs Canada, various sources.

3 3 Veterans Affairs Canada Dates to 1915 Life Course Organization Business Lines Veterans Compensation and Financial Support $2.06B* Health Care and Re establishment $1.16B* Remembrance 45M* National Network of District and Regional Offices

4 4 VAC Services and Benefits with New Veterans Charter 2006 Disability Awards Rehabilitation Program Including Vocational Rehabilitation & Vocational Assistance Financial Benefits, Group Health Insurance, Job Placement For Veterans, their families and CF members New Veterans Charter Launch

5 5 Military Service and Mental Health Evidence of life long mental health effects and military service 15 % of Canadian Regular Forces meet criteria for mood disorder, anxiety or substance dependence (2002) 7% depression, 4% alcohol dependence, 2% PTSD Depression higher than Canadian population

6 6 Veterans and Mental Health Population level estimates of Veteran mental health In Canada unknown Dramatic increase in mental health disability pensions/awards 2,000 12,000 pensions in past decade 60% PTSD, 34% Depression/Anxiety Co morbidity common 50% of clients have moderate to severe disability

7 7 Veteran Mental Health Services Mental health services available across Canada 10 Operational Stress Injury Clinics 2000 Individual mental health providers (psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers) OSI Support Network (Peer Support) Clinical Care Manager (Intensive Case Management) 5 co morbid PTSD/Substance Abuse Programs

8 VAC and DND Network of OSI Clinics 8 8 Residential Treatment Clinic Edmonton Capital Health Esquimalt OTSSC Edmonton OTSSC Ottawa OTSSC Valcartier OTSSC Halifax OTSSC

9 9 Veteran Re-establishment Programs 4,300 Veterans release yearly from the Regular Force to civilian society 20% due to medical release Average age of release 36 years Special Challenges in Veteran transition Culture Shift Reintegrating to a new civilian workplace Mental health and co morbid conditions Many previously released not successfully re established

10 10 Veteran Rehabilitation Programs Rehabilitation Medical Pyscho social Vocational About 50% have mental health conditions

11 11 CIHR Catalyst Grant The problem How to maximize successful workplace reintegration for Veterans with mental health conditions.

12 12 CIHR Catalyst Grant: The problem Continuum of work with intervention potential decreasing worker prevalence along continuum Well and at work Symptoms Sick leave Promotion in the workplace Early identification of at risk Return to work Prolonged disability Reintegration to new workplace Chronic unemployment Supported employment increasing resources required for intervention LVT, 2009

13 13 Prevention of Work Disability Loisel, 2005

14 14 CIHR Catalyst Grant Objective: Long Term Research Program Phase 1: Team building (year 1) Focus on civilian workplace reintegration of Veterans with mental disorders Phase 2: Pilot study (year 2) Determinants of successful reintegration (workplace, compensation, health care, and personal) Phase 3: Intervention effectiveness study (years 3 5)

15 15 The Team VAC & DND expertise in Veteran mental health University based research design, epidemiology, psychiatry, workplace reintegration and rehabilitation VAC OSI clinic network problem definition, sites for implementation and knowledge exchange

16 16 Year One Activities Share proposed work at Congress for Research and Mental Health in the Workplace Literature Review (with support of IWH) Develop Reintegration Model Two Workshops (first early November) Pilot Project proposal

17 17 Conclusion This is a work in progress. SUGGESTIONS PLEASE Thanks to CIHR Catalyst Grant Program for Support of this Work

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19 This presentation was given at: