You Are Not Alone

Are you a former or still-serving Canadian Forces member who suffers from an operational stress injury? Do you find it difficult to talk to someone about what you are experiencing? If so, you can receive support through a special Peer Support Network formed with the help of the Department of National Defence and Veterans Affairs Canada.

The Peer Support Network is part of the Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS) program. It is made up of veterans across the country who have experienced an operational stress injury themselves, and who want to help you with healing and recovery. Every Peer Support Coordinator has one priority: to help you feel well again. How much they help, and when, is up to you. Your contact will listen, suggest a few ideas and leave the choices to you.

Your Peer Support Coordinator will work with you to find the help you need. This might include putting you in touch with professionals in mental health, alcohol or drug abuse, or family counselling. They can also put you in contact with staff at Veterans Affairs Canada and/or the Canadian Forces who can help you sort out other issues, such as your release or pension.

Confidential support is available by contacting the Peer Support Coordinator nearest you: call 1-800-883-6094 or visit on-line at www.osiss.ca. Peer Support Coordinators are now available in 13 locations across Canada.

"When my tour was over, coming home turned out to be a very strange thing. It wasn't the same. Maybe I wasn't the same. I needed some time to readjust and to think things through. Most of it didn't make sense. Nobody knew what I was thinking about... I ‘sucked it up' and pretended things were fine. But things weren't fine." – a CF veteran who got help through the Peer Support Network.