WHAT’S NEW
Mind Beyond the Mission
Finding strength in vulnerability with guests Gary Hollender and Sheri Lux
In a new podcast episode, Laryssa Lamrock and guest co-host Staff Sergeant (Ret’d) Gary Hollender are joined by Sheri Lux. Sheri opens up about the loss of her husband Mike, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer, who died by suicide in 2017. Sheri shares her journey of self-discovery and healing, providing insights into the unique challenges faced by RCMP Families, the power found in community support and the importance vulnerability played in healing and processing this profound loss.
Some topics they explore:
- The importance of community support in times of crisis
- Insights into the unique experiences of first responder Families
- The role the arts can play in healing and processing trauma
- The impacts mental health challenges can have on Family dynamics
- The importance of open conversations around mental health in the community
Perspectives
Dandelion child: How my military childhood shaped me
“We were never given a choice to have this lifestyle, but we do a pretty darn good job at thriving with our own lived and shared experiences together.”
In this new Perspectives blog, Laura Woods reflects on her life growing up in a Canadian Armed Forces Family. From frequent moves and new schools to discovering strength in solitude and connection, she shares how being a military child shaped the person she has become.
COMMUNITY CORNER
International Conference on Youth Mental Health
Team Atlas had the privilege of presenting at the 7th International Conference on Youth Mental Health (IAYMH) in Vancouver, held March 18 – 21, 2025. This year’s theme, “Turning the tide: Creating a global blueprint for prevention and integrated care in youth mental health,” provided a platform for Victoria Carmichael, Senior Knowledge Mobilization Specialist at the Atlas Institute, and Strategic Reference Group member Sam Nicholls to present on how young Family members drew on their lived expertise to actively shape the development of The MindKit Chronicles, a webcomic that is one of the resources on our MindKit youth mental health hub.
One aim of IAYMH is to empower young people with taking an active role in shaping decisions about their mental health and well-being. The Atlas team has found that meaningfully engaging youth can help ensure that knowledge is shared in relevant and accessible ways. The MindKit Chronicles comic is an innovative approach for sharing evidence-informed mental health information with youth, incorporating insights from both clinical and lived expertise. It provides young Family members of Canadian Veterans living with posttraumatic stress injuries with knowledge, personal stories and strategies to help navigate challenging situations.
EVENTS AND TRAINING
June 2, 2025 — RCMP Veterans: Mental health dialogue session
Are you a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Veteran (former member) who will be in the Moncton area on June 2, 2025?
Atlas is hosting a dialogue session to explore RCMP Veteran needs and perspectives relating to mental health. To ensure our future work is reflective of the needs of the community, we need to hear directly from its members.
Through facilitated discussion questions, developed with RCMP Veteran input, this dialogue session will explore experiences and perspectives relating to mental health to identify research priorities, knowledge needs and areas of public policy action.
Over the next year, Atlas will host several RCMP Veteran dialogue sessions, both in-person and virtually. Future sessions will include discussions on the experiences of RCMP women Veterans, RCMP Family members and Francophone RCMP Veterans.
Once the dialogue series is completed, we will summarize what we heard into a public report so all organizations working in the area of RCMP Veterans and Family mental health can better understand the needs of the community and potential focus areas for future efforts.
The first dialogue session will be held in Moncton, NB on June 2, 2025.
Event details
Who: RCMP Veterans (former members)
Date: June 2, 2025
Time: 1:30 – 4 p.m., Atlantic time
Location: Moncton, NB
Language: This session will be facilitated in English.
For more information, to register or if you are interested in being involved, please contact RSVP-Atlas@theroyal.ca.
Please note that spaces are limited. Registration will close Friday, May 16, or when all spaces have been filled.
SELF-PACED TRAINING
Managing problematic anger
Trauma-exposed professionals training
FEATURED RESOURCE
Peer support guidelines for Veterans, military, public safety personnel, and their Families
In the Veteran community, peer support can often be invaluable for mental health recovery given the high value placed on relationships of trust. Feeling understood by someone who has “walked in their shoes” can often allow people to share their experiences without fear of judgment. However, it is crucial for formal peer support organizations to use best practices that take into consideration the needs of both the person receiving the peer support and the peer supporter.
New national guidelines are now available to help meet the unique peer support needs of the Veteran and public safety communities. Designed by Atlas in collaboration with the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment and the Peer Support Community Network, these guidelines offer evidence-informed best practices for formal peer support programs offered in workplace or community-based settings to Veterans, military, public safety personnel, and their Families.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Recruiting study
An exploratory study of the sleep health of Canadian Veterans and their Families
Atlas has launched a new study to better understand how Veterans and their Family members experience sleep. We know that sleep problems are highly prevalent in Veterans for a multitude of reasons and that they often occur alongside many mental health conditions. However, there is limited knowledge about the sleep experiences, quality and outcomes of these experiences on Canadian Veterans and consequently on their Family members. The results of this study will allow us to better understand the factors associated with sleep health, how sleep impacts daily activities, what health, behavioural and environmental factors are associated with sleep quality in Veterans, and what should be captured in sleep health resources.
Learn more and participate in the study by completing our survey, which should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
An exploratory study of the sleep health of Canadian Veterans and their Families
Principal Investigators: Kate Hill MacEachern, PhD and Tabitha Beynen
Royal Ottawa Health Care Group REB#269
Version 1, January 9, 2025
Recruiting study
Functional MRI neurofeedback study for posttraumatic stress disorder
A research study at the Lawson Research Institute on multiple-session MRI-biofeedback for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), led by Dr. Jean Théberge and supported by the Atlas Institute’s Dr. Andrew Nicholson and Clinical Research team, is now open for recruitment.
Researchers will use state-of-the-art functional MRI (fMRI) brain imaging technology to provide real-time feedback to participants about the brain’s activity, with the goal of learning how to help those with PTSD self-regulate brain activity associated with their symptoms. This work has implications on the treatment options available to address PTSD symptoms and for Veterans and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, who are more likely to experience operational stress injuries from their service.
We are currently seeking CAF members, Veterans and civilians living in and around London, ON to participate in the fMRI neurofeedback study. Your participation in this research would involve visiting the Lawson Health Research Institute for three fMRI scans, a clinical assessment interview, completion of online questionnaires and wearing a wristband device to track sleep.
Eligible participants will be compensated for their time and travel reimbursement for parking or public transit expenses is available.
For more information about the study, please contact Jonathan Lieberman: jonathan.lieberman@sjhc.london.on.ca.
Recruiting study
Virtually delivered breathing-based meditation for Canadian Veterans with PTSD
Researchers at Sinai Health System are investigating the effectiveness and implementation of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY), a form of breathing-based meditation that may help Veterans living with PTSD. This study involves participating in virtually delivered breathing-based meditation sessions over the course of six weeks.
For more information about the study, please contact Bibiana Kemerer: SKY.PTSD@sinaihealth.ca.
Announcing the 2025-26 Atlas Institute collaborative research funding recipients!
Atlas received a wealth of compelling and high-calibre submissions for the 2025-26 research request for proposal cycle. This year’s proposals showcased a deep commitment to advancing knowledge in key areas critical to the well-being of Veterans and their Families. The submissions focused on three topics: the impact of Family involvement in Veteran care, the mental health status of former RCMP members, and the lived experiences of single-parent Veteran Families.
We are pleased to announce the three recipients of the 2025-26 Atlas Institute collaborative research funding opportunities. Congratulations to all! Keep reading to learn more about the funding recipients and their research projects.
Integrating Families into Veteran care pathways: Enhancing support for improved Veteran well-being
Dr. Jenny Liu, Head of Scientific Development and Knowledge Mobilization at the MacDonald Franklin OSI Research Centre and Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University aims to address critical gaps in Family-inclusive care pathways for Veterans by examining barriers, engaging stakeholders and developing evidence-based solutions.
Post-service life: Mental health and well-being of Royal Canadian Mounted Police Veterans
Dr. R. Nicholas Carleton, professor at the University of Regina, within the Department of Psychology, will collect self-reported mental health data from former or retired RCMP members through a detailed online survey assessing the prevalence of mental health disorders, exposures to potentially psychologically traumatic events, social supports and access to care. They intend to examine sociodemographic differences and compare results with data from current and new RCMP members and other public safety personnel to better understand mental health across the RCMP service continuum.
Experiences of single-parent Veteran Families
Dr. Deborah Norris, professor at Mount Saint Vincent University within the department of Family Studies and Gerontology aims to synthesize existing research and describe the experiences of single-parent CAF Veterans, with a focus on how military life, resilience, mental health and diverse identities shape their post-service Family experiences. The study also seek to identify gaps in support systems during reintegration and develop recommendations to inform relevant policies and programs.
PARTNERSHIP AND STAKEHOLDER SPOTLIGHT
Ontario First Responders’ Mental Health Conference
Members of the Atlas Institute’s Lived Experience team recently attended the Ontario First Responders’ Mental Health Conference in Mississauga, ON. They had the opportunity to hear from speakers advocating for support systems specific to the needs of public safety personnel and their Families and sharing about the power of peer support for those living with mental health injuries. It is so encouraging to see Families being recognized in their own right. The conference focuses on building connections between trauma-exposed professionals, their Families, organizational leaders, mental health clinicians and researchers. Thank you for having us!
COMMEMORATIONS CALENDAR
| May | Sexual Violence Prevention Month |
| May 5 – 9 | Mental Health Week |
| May 12 – 18 | National Police Week |
| May 23 | RCMP anniversary |
We want to hear from you!
What did you think of this newsletter? Are you a Veteran or Family member with a story to tell? Get in touch with us!
Get more updates
Join our mailing list to receive this monthly newsletter and regular updates about Veteran and Family mental health from the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families.
