WHAT’S NEW

An introduction to prolonged exposure therapy with guests Dr. David Paul and Justin Woodcock

In a new podcast episode, host Laryssa Lamrock and guest co-host Justin Woodcock are joined by Dr. David Paul to explore prolonged exposure (PE) therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They talk about the basics of PE and how it is specifically designed to help people living with PTSD, and highlight the vital role Families play in supporting loved ones. David is a registered psychologist specializing in trauma treatment for military and public safety personnel.

Some topics they explore:

• What PE therapy is and how it differs from general exposure therapy
• Why PE is targeted to treat PTSD and typical session durations and structure
• Common misconceptions and fears about PE among Veterans and their Families
• The vital role Family members play and advice for Families with loved ones considering or starting PE therapy

The long road forward: Navigating trauma and finding meaning

“These anniversaries will never go away, I will always have memories of this event, but now I’ve made space for them. They may not be comfortable but they have a purpose — to remind me to be on the lookout for the everyday things that help me to feel safe, hopeful and joyful, and to appreciate and to be grateful for the amazing life I live.”

In a new Perspectives blog post, Veteran and peer researcher Connie Uetz reflects on the traumatic event that changed the course of her life and military career. She shares how she’s come to honour and make space for the anniversary of the life-altering night, and find peace and healing in her day-to-day experiences

COMMUNITY CORNER

Team Atlas connects with North Bay

Last month, the Atlas team had the great opportunity to connect with Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS) during their regional training in North Bay, ON, where the OSISS team exhibited their continued commitment and dedication to peer support in Eastern Ontario.

Our team was thrilled to receive an invitation to share the new peer support guidelines, which are uniquely tailored to the military, Veteran and public safety communities. The guidelines can be used as a reference for developing new peer support programs, evaluating or adapting existing ones to ensure they follow an evidence-informed approach, or as a resource for individuals seeking peer support to assess whether a program is the right fit. Team Atlas members also spoke about MindKit.ca, a tool created for and by young Family members of Canadian Veterans impacted by a posttraumatic stress injury (PTSI).

The Atlas team then continued our presence at the Armed Forces Day event, connecting with service members, Families and other community members. We always appreciate the opportunity to meet, engage, share resources and build meaningful connections.

Grateful to have been included — thank you for having us!

EVENTS AND TRAINING

September 2, 2025 — Digital stories screening

We invite you to join us on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 for a free screening of five new digital stories told by Veterans and Veteran Family members. United by a shared desire to tell their stories, these storytellers courageously reveal their paths toward reclaiming their identity, finding purpose and redefining who they are today in hopes of supporting others walking along the same path.

September 19 – 21, 2025 — Canada Army Run

Atlas is an official partner of this year’s Canada Army Run! We are proud to be a part of this meaningful event, which gathers participants from across Canada and the world, and champions the charitable causes Support Our Troops and Soldier On that help to care for the CAF community, their Families and the ill and injured.

As a race partner, we are thrilled to be able to offer the Atlas community a discount code for 30% off your in-person or virtual registration fee. Run, walk or roll in person in Ottawa, ON on September 21. If you can’t make it to Ottawa, you can still support the cause by participating virtually from wherever you are between September 5 and 26. Participants can sign up for race distances of either 5 km, 10 km, 15 km, 21.1 km or 26.1 km. Use code ATLAS to save at checkout.

On September 19 and 20, Atlas will also be hosting a booth in the Expo Hall, where racers will be able to discover our many resources and ways to get involved. We hope to see you there!

SELF-PACED TRAINING

FEATURED RESOURCE

Intimate partner violence: Supportive guides for Veterans and Veteran Family members

Anyone can experience abuse or violence in an intimate relationship, including Veterans and Family members. If you or someone you know is going through this, it’s important to know that there are resources to help navigate and address the situation and take steps towards support and healing.

Atlas has co-created resources on intimate partner violence (IPV) in collaboration with Veterans and Family members with lived experience, researchers and service providers:

• Recognizing and addressing unhealthy relationships: Information on signs of an unhealthy relationship and tips for what to do in such a situation
• Supporting children exposed to intimate partner violence: Practical information and guidance to support and talk to children

The health, safety and well-being of you and your Family are important not just to you, but also those who care about you. With these resources, the goal is to provide Veterans and Veteran Family members with tools and strategies to strengthen safety, health and resilience in the face of this challenge — and to help stop the cycle of abuse.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Study participation opportunity for the general population and Veterans: Thriving after service

Atlas is looking for participants for a study that seeks to understand what makes people feel happy, connected and fulfilled in all aspects of life, and how it compares to the Veteran experience. Our aim is to identify the factors associated with flourishing and positive mental health, with the goal of providing important insights on how best to promote Veteran mental health and well-being. The results will inform the development of resources and help improve programs and services to foster flourishing and thriving among Veterans in all aspects of their lives.

We are looking to hear from all perspectives, meaning the general population, as well as RCMP and CAF Veterans. Participants don’t need to feel like they are thriving to participate.

The survey takes about 60 minutes to complete. It can either be completed in one or multiple sittings, as your browser will remember your spot and allow you to come back.

Please consider sharing this survey. Your help in sharing this survey with your friends and Family can increase the reach and impact of the study.

Identity in turmoil: Investigating the morally injurious dimensions of minority stress

A research article from the minority stress research program titled Identity in turmoil: Investigating the morally injurious dimensions of minority stress was recently published in the European Journal of Psychotraumatology. This research, led by Dr. Andrew Nicholson, Clinical Research Director at the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families, and PhD student Sandhya Narikuzhy, explored both personal stories and mental health symptom-related data to better understand how people experience minority stress.

This study found that:

• The core features of minority stress-related moral injury included shame, guilt, betrayal and attachment injuries.
• The more someone experienced minority stress, the more likely they were to show signs of trauma and harmful alcohol use.

These findings can help scientists, psychologists and communities better understand what happens to people facing minority stress. This work is especially important for supporting Veterans, active-duty military personnel and civilians with marginalized identities, by improving mental health care and designing better treatments. Studying minority stress is essential to amplifying underrepresented voices in the military community and understanding how marginalization and societal isolation shape mental health.

PARTNERSHIP AND STAKEHOLDER SPOTLIGHT

Connecting with community across Canada

Spring was a busy season for Team Atlas — and we wouldn’t have it any other way! We attended events throughout the country and had the opportunity to meet with and present to more than 700 people. Over the course of May and June you might have seen us in:

• Regina, SK [Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT) Conference] — May 7 – 8
• Yellowknife, NT (Chamber of Commerce Spring Trade Show) — May 10 – 11
• Halifax, NS (DND Family Days) — May 30 – 31
• Moncton, NB (Atlantic First Responders’ Mental Health Conference) — June 2 – 3
• Toronto, ON (Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence annual workshop) — June 2 – 3
• North Bay, ON (Armed Forces Day) — June 4
• Blue Mountain, ON [Integrating Science, Practice, Innovation, Research and Experience (InSPIRE)] — June 2 – 4
• St. John’s, NL (Canadian Psychological Association annual general meeting and national convention) — June 12 – 14

Being able to connect with the community in person to hear about their needs and experiences is the fuel that drives us in the work that we do.

2025 in-person Strategic Reference Group meeting

The Atlas Institute’s Strategic Reference Group (SRG) gathered in person on May 14 – 15 in Ottawa, ON for a productive 1.5-day meeting. The event began with a networking breakfast, providing an opportunity for members to reconnect and set a collaborative tone for the meeting.

The meeting officially opened with a smudging ceremony led by Elders Bernard Nelson of the Eabametoong First Nation and Tammy Nelson of the Nipissing First Nation. SRG Chair and Atlas President and CEO Fardous Hosseiny welcomed participants with opening remarks and a Veteran acknowledgement setting the stage for the work ahead. We were honoured to hear from Dr. Cyd Courchesne, who provided remarks on behalf of Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC).

Over the course of the gathering, SRG members and Atlas staff took part in conversations around strategic priorities for the organization, identified new opportunities and strengthened connections between SRG members and staff. The discussion included topics such as opportunities for research, ideas for new resources, and public policy.

A heartfelt thank you to all members, special guests, and staff who contributed to the valuable discourse and identified opportunities for Atlas over the coming months and years. Your energy, ideas and commitment are deeply appreciated.

We look forward to continuing our conversations at our next virtual meeting in October.

COMMEMORATIONS CALENDAR

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