CIMVHR Forum 2023 Workshops

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Psychedelic Medicine: Definitely Out of the Shadows but Is It Ready for Prime Time?

We will stimulate discussion regarding a "hot topic" in lay society, academia and the military/veteran populations that we serve. We will share a brief historic narrative highlighting key touch points in the evolution of psychedelic medicines. Cultural rituals emerged historically throughout the world in populations separated by thousands of kilometres. Within the realm of psychotrauma the Dutch psychiatrist Jan Bastiens used LSD to treat holocaust survivors suffering from what clearly was PTSD and likely Moral Injury. He and his contemporaries unfortunately did not systematically study the use of psychedelics and eventually the treatments were driven "underground". However, over the past 2 decades a psychedelic renaissance has occurred with a decidedly "biopharmaceutical approach"; developing novel molecules, conducting clinical trials in academic centres and aiming for the approval by government/regulatory bodies. This workshop will conclude with a discussion regarding the present and future regarding the safety and efficacy of these approaches.

Workshop Host:

Col (Retd) Eric Vermetten, MD, PhD
Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

Time:

7:30AM - 9:00AM

Fatigue and Moral Injury in People of Service; Identifying and Offering Appropriate Support and Treatment to Active and Retired Members and Families

Until recently, those in the profession of policing have been prevented from discussing or dealing with their health issues such as fatigue, posttraumatic stress disorder, and moral injury. At the Ottawa Police Association (OPA) we examined a working strategy to bring forward programs that would develop a healthy and resilient environment. We started by having members complete self-evaluation questionnaires in 2015 and 2019 which showed our members were universally fatigued and suffering from untreated, undiagnosed, moral injury. Since then, we have successfully introduced the OPA Fatigue Management Strategy; this strategy incorporates the concepts of proper sleep health, along with moral injury awareness and treatment, and access to Sleep Disorders Centre when necessary. We will describe how treatment has been linked to a reduction in self-harm and improvement of quality of life in our members and help others to work with programs to assist with their personnel and families.

Workshop Hosts:

Matt Skof
President, Ottawa Police Association

Melinda Keenan, PhD
Executive-Clinical Director, Center for Post-Traumatic Growth

Lois James, PhD
Assistant Dean for Research, Associate Professor, Washington State University, College of Nursing; Sleep and Performance Research Center; Counter Bias Training Simulation

Alan Douglass, MD
Assistant Professor, Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
Former Director, The Sleep Disorders Clinic at The Royal Ottawa Hospital

Carlos Echevarria Zayas, MSW
Center for Post-Traumatic Growth

Laura Williams, MA, LPCC
Clinician/Family Programs, Center for Post-Traumatic Growth

Eva Savage
Wellness Designate, Ottawa Police Association

Time:

7:30AM - 9:00AM

Role of the Arts in Ill and Injured CAF Members and Veterans' Recovery and Rehabilitation in Canada

There is a growing body of scholarly work on the effectiveness of arts in reducing the impact of trauma and PTSD among CAF members and Veterans. Additionally, art therapists and researchers have discussed the need to shift the focus from individual psychotherapy to community-based art engagement programs, which empower the community to define its own identity and express its needs and strengths. In spite of the scholarly evidence of the positive impact of community-based creative arts, Canada does not yet have a well-developed understanding of the role of the arts in the recovery and rehabilitation of injured or ill service members, Veterans, and their families. In this workshop, the facilitators will leverage the findings of academic review and lived experience insights to inform a discussion with community-based evaluators and Veteran artists for recommendations on establishing a framework for community-based arts interventions in Canada.

Workshop Host:

Eric Li, PhD
Associate Professor, University of British Columbia

Time:

7:30AM - 9:00AM

The Military Sexual Trauma Community of Practice: A Partnership to Promote Understanding, and Decrease the Occurrence and Effects of MST

At Forum 2019, we hosted CIMVHR’s first workshop addressing Military Sexual Trauma (MST) in the Canadian Armed Forces. Since then, we have formed the Canadian Military Sexual Trauma Community of Practice, which brings together persons with lived experience, clinicians, academics, NGO’s, and CAF, DND and VAC representatives, to understand and decrease occurrence, and address mental health effects of MST on serving members and Veterans. The role of community partners and of the MINDS-funded Canadian MST Network will be elaborated. Key accomplishments, including the first Canadian Virtual Symposium Series on MST, and contributions to the “Critical Conversations” meetings with CAF junior and senior leaders, will be discussed. Progress-to-date on the goals identified at our 2019 workshop will be reviewed. Participants will engage in breakout groups to identify knowledge gaps, new initiatives and research topics for the upcoming year. An intersectional lens will be applied to understanding the factors related to MST.

Workshop Hosts:

Margaret McKinnon, PhD, CPsych
Homewood Chair in Mental Health and Trauma
Professor and Associate Chair, Research
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences
McMaster University

Alexandra Heber, MD, FRCPC
Chief of Psychiatry, Veterans Affairs Canada
Associate Professor, Dept of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University
Co-Chair, Canadian Military Sexual Trauma Community of Practice

Linna Tam-Seto, PhD, O.T.Reg.(Ont.)
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences
McMaster University
Network Co-Director, Canadian Military Sexual Trauma Collaborative Network

Time:

7:30AM - 9:00AM

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Culture Change Meets Health and Wellness

Culture change is a stated key priority of the Canadian Armed Forces. This workshop focuses on how culture change intersects with health and wellness in the military context. How does culture change require a health and wellness lens and what culture change is needed specific to the Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS)? The military is unique in its dual responsibility for both the profession of arms and provision of health care. Workshop participants will hear from academics, military members, military health care professionals, and civilian health care professionals working on issues of equity and intersectionality. Key objectives are to identify what lessons can be learned about culture change from civilian health care which has begun to address histories of ableism, colonialism, racism, sexism, and homophobia in its own practices. The workshop will also help identify best practices for ongoing culture change efforts within CFHS and Chief Professional Conduct and Culture related to health and wellness.

Workshop Hosts:

Tammy George, PhD
Assistant Professor, York University

Maya Eichler, PhD
Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Social Innovation and Community Engagement, Mount Saint Vincent University

Time:

7:30AM - 9:00AM

Creating the space for military and Veteran-connected postsecondary education in Canada

A Canadian Military- and Veteran Friendly Campus Consortium (CMVFCC) has been initiated to facilitate (1) a coordinated approach to post-secondary educational supports for military members (regular force, reservists, rangers) and veterans pursuing post-secondary education, and (2) collaboration among key stakeholders (military members, veterans, post-secondary institutions (colleges, polytechnics and universities), Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans Affairs Canada, business and industry partners, 3rd party providers etc.) invested in supporting their success. Following a context-setting interactive panel presentation, workshop participants will engage in small group discussions to co-design a national consortium, co-author an organizational vision, and co-create best practices, educational interventions and knowledge mobilizations strategies that academically and socially support military-connected and veteran learners. The desired outcomes of the workshop include generating awareness of educational needs, evolving the CMVFCC, enhancing equity across the postsecondary landscape, and leveraging the expertise of group members for the benefit of those who serve and have served.

Workshop Host:

Suzette Brémault-Phillips, PhD, Professor, University of Alberta, and Director, HiMARC
On behalf of Canadian Military and Veteran Friendly Campus Consortium Partners

Time:

7:30AM - 9:00AM

Equity in Decision Making: The Adjudication of Sexual Dysfunction and Military Sexual Trauma at Veterans Affairs Canada

This discussion will highlight the sex and gender inclusive approach that Veteran Affairs Canada (VAC) is undertaking to ensure equity in Disability Benefits processes for Veterans. Participants will learn about the main tools that VAC uses to support consistent, transparent, equitable and timely Disability Benefits decisions; the VAC Entitlement Eligibility Guidelines (EEG) and the Table of Disabilities, and the work that is underway to modernize these tools by applying a Sex and Gender-Based Analysis Plus (SGBA+) lens. A review of the new VAC Entitlement Eligibility Guideline for Sexual Dysfunction will be provided. This new EEG is sex and gender inclusive and provides a streamlined approach to decision making for Veterans with sexual dysfunction, including those who have experienced Military Sexual Trauma (MST). The importance of providing treatment benefits for sexual dysfunction, as part of the overall strategy for supporting Veterans suffering from MST, will be explored. Audience participation will be encouraged.

Workshop Hosts:

Margaret Boswall, MD
Senior Medical Advisor, Strategic Initiatives, Central Operations Division
Veterans Affairs Canada, Government of Canada

Melanie MacDonald, BScN, RN, MHSA
EEG Modernization Lead, Strategic Initiatives, Central Operations Division
Veterans Affairs Canada, Government of Canada

Sébastien Périgny-Lajoie, MSc
EEG and TOD Modernization Coordinator, Strategic Initiatives, Central Operations Division
Veterans Affairs Canada, Government of Canada

Time:

7:30AM - 9:00AM

Harnessing Military and Veteran Data from Census 2021

Statistics Canada has been working for several years to develop a comprehensive database of serving Canadian Armed Forces personnel and Veterans. Drawing from historical records, federal administrative data, and a new military service question on the 2021 short-form census, this database now contains records from more than 2.7 million individuals who served over the past 100 years. This provides an unprecedented opportunity for population health research on our current military and Veteran population. It also opens up possibilities for international comparisons, as the United Kingdom and Australia also added military service census questions in 2021. This workshop will seek to prioritize the use of census data and also explore directions for future large-scale data linkages with federal and provincial administrative data in the health and socioeconomic domains. Participants from diverse fields of study are welcome to join us in shaping the future research agenda in military and Veteran well-being research.

Workshop Hosts:

Nathan Svenson
Research Director, Veterans Affairs Canada, Government of Canada

Jennifer E. C. Lee, PhD
Director Research Personnel and Family Support, Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis, Chief Military Personnel, Department of National Defence, Government of Canada

Time:

7:30AM - 9:00AM

Charting Your Path Forward: A Mentoring Event for Students and Postdoctoral Fellows (Student Event)

This mentoring event will provide students and postdoctoral fellows with formal mentoring and networking opportunities where they can hear from and engage with seasoned researchers in the fields of military, Veteran, and family health, as well as public safety personnel. The event will include two components starting with a panel discussion of what these researchers wished they knew as students and postdoctoral fellows, what they know now regarding their careers and research trajectories, and what they’re currently working on which is meaningful to advancing their fields. The second component is a World Café style session in which participants and panellists will have multiple smaller collaborative conversations with discussions covering relevant and important questions and topics related to developing a high-impact research career.

Workshop Host:

Student and Postdoctoral Engagement Committee

Time:

7:30AM - 9:00AM