WHAT’S NEW

A time to pause: Remembering our fallen officers and their Families

“In honour of those we lost, we can make changes right now to make better use of the time we do have with the resources we are given and the people who surround us daily.”

In a new Perspectives blog post, Toni Harrington, the spouse of a former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), writes about the significance of pausing to honour and reflect on the sacrifices made by fallen members and the resilience of their Families.

She highlights the importance of remembering the sacrifices of fallen officers by cherishing the time we have and pausing to honour the legacies of those we’ve lost.

Military Family Appreciation Day 2025

Military and Veteran Family members may not wear the uniform, but they carry the weight of providing care, stability and support for their loved ones — often with little recognition.

On September 19, 2025 we celebrated Military Family Appreciation Day, recognizing the strength, resilience and sacrifices made by military and Veteran Families who serve in their own unique way by helping to ensure they have access to the resources and supports they need too.

Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day

Each year, on the last Sunday in September, we come together as a community to honour and remember the fallen on Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day. We express our deepest gratitude and pause to reflect on their lasting legacy — their bravery and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Behind every fallen officer is a Family who carries the weight of their loss. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Families, friends and colleagues of those who have lost their lives — your enduring love keeps their memory alive.

Learn more about Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day and find resources for Royal Canadian Mounted Police Veterans, Military Police and their Families.

COMMUNITY CORNER

Connecting with First Nations Veterans and Family members in Winnipeg, MB

Atlas was pleased to have the opportunity to attend the Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly and Circle of Trade Show in Winnipeg, MB from September 3 to 5. Over three days, our team connected with more than 100 attendees at the Atlas booth, including many First Nations Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Veterans and their Family members. It was also a great opportunity to spend some time connecting with project team members who support our work related to First Nations, Inuit and Métis Veteran and Family wellness, including our Strategic Advisor, Tim O’Loan (pictured, right).

We appreciate those who took the time to stop by the Atlas booth to share your stories and experiences with us — we truly appreciate your time, trust and insights. Atlas remains committed to listening, learning and collaborating with community to support Indigenous Veteran and Family wellness and foster positive change across the diverse communities that we engage.

EVENTS AND TRAINING

October 9, 2025 — Webinar: The psychiatric management of PTSD (for Veterans and Families)

Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Veterans and Family members: You’re invited to a webinar on October 9, 2025 that will share accessible, practical knowledge about how medications and other forms of treatment can work to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This webinar will discuss how medication-based treatments can aid recovery by helping Veterans and Families actively participate in the treatment process.

October 20 – 22, 2025 — CIMVHR Forum 2025

We are just a few weeks away from CIMVHR Forum 2025. This year, Atlas will be presenting on a variety of topics and research projects, including women Veterans’ well-being, aging Canadian Veterans, peer support guidelines, neurofeedback and more. Be sure to visit our booth and attend our symposium, podium and poster presentations to learn more about our research on military and Veteran health and how, together, we are creating positive change for Veterans and Families across Canada. Find out more, including the full list of Atlas presentations, on our event page.

Training and opportunities for service providers

Prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD training

Registration opens on October 7, 2025 for a training on prolonged exposure (PE) therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), offered in English. This training is for licensed service providers working in mental health who care for Veterans and their Families in Canada.

This training includes a four-day workshop on PE therapy for PTSD, taking place March 9–12, 2026, followed by 12 weeks of expert-led group consultations. The cost is covered for eligible service providers.

Evidence-Based Therapy for Veterans and Families Community of Practice

A few spots are still available for the Atlas Institute’s Evidence-Based Therapy for Veterans and Families Community of Practice (EBT4VaF CoP) for service providers.

The EBTfVaF CoP provides a space to connect, share and leverage knowledge to enhance care for Veterans and their Families living with PTSD and related mental health conditions. The next meeting takes place on October 9, 2025.

SELF-PACED TRAINING

FEATURED RESOURCE

Factors influencing mental health care access for Veterans and their Families

What are the factors that affect access to mental health care for Veterans and their Families in post-service life? A new Study Notes, summarizing key takeaways from a review of the research on this topic, is now available.

This resource includes information on:

• Barriers and facilitators to accessing mental health care
• What this means for Veterans, Family members, service providers, researchers and policy makers

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Free research training program: Now accepting applications from Veterans and Veteran Family members

Applications are open for our Veteran and Family research training program. This free training is designed to equip Veterans and their Families with the research knowledge and skills they need to collaborate and advise on studies, from study development to sharing findings.

This year, based on additional community feedback, Atlas is offering two different ways of participating in the training:

• Workshop series: Four online workshops being held between October 2025 and March 2026. These introductory sessions will familiarize Veterans and Family members with current research and key findings in Veteran and Family well-being, build awareness of how research is conducted, increase understanding of the importance of integrating lived experience into research and encourage conversation about research between people with lived experience.
• Online course: Nine-week training made up of self-directed course work and live online classes, taking place between January and March 2026. This course will equip participants with a strong understanding of key research concepts, build capacity for engaging with academic or peer-reviewed literature, empower participants to formulate meaningful research questions, explore effective strategies for knowledge sharing and increase confidence to navigate roles within peer and community research contexts. Course participants will also be invited to optionally participate in a study about its impact.

Spaces are limited! We are inviting Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police and their Family members to participate.

Research Compass highlights ongoing Atlas research

The fifth issue of Research Compass is out now, showcasing the latest information about our Veteran and Family well-being and mental health research.

Each issue features current updates on studies in which you can participate, recent research we have presented, how to get involved in our research, and our latest publications. Issue 5 includes highlights on:

• New research published and presented on minority stress and neurofeedback
• A recruiting study on moral injury in Veteran Families
• An upcoming international study on women Veterans’ reproductive health

and more.

Last call to apply for research funding

Time is running out to apply for research funding opportunities. Atlas will be funding in three critical areas designed to enhance understanding and support the mental health and well-being of Veterans and their Families. This initiative aligns with our continuing commitment to expanding knowledge and boosting research capabilities in the field of mental health, working directly with the community to identify areas of particular interest and opportunity.

This year, Atlas will be funding research on:

• Caregiving, intimacy, and relational health in Veteran Families
• Veteran resilience after service and rebuilding identity (in partnership with Mental Health Research Canada)
• Occupational moral injury implications post-service for RCMP members

Proposals will be accepted until October 14, 2025 at 12 p.m., Eastern time, with the anticipated notice of decision in December 2025 – January 2026. For more information about the funding program, visit our webpage or contact the Research Partnerships team at atlasresearch@theroyal.ca.

Research participation opportunities in Ottawa and London, ON

If you live in and around Ottawa or London, ON, consider participating in one of our clinical research studies! Learn about each study and how you can participate:

London, ON: Functional MRI neurofeedback study for PTSD

Atlas is recruiting participants for a study at the Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph’s Health Care London to test the use of real-time functional MRI (rt-fMRI) in training the brain to control trauma symptoms. Researchers will use state-of-the-art 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. Your participation in this research would involve three MRI scans at the Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph’s Health Care London, self-report and clinician-administered assessments, and wearing a wristband device to measure sleep tracking.

Ottawa, ON: Minority Stress Study

Atlas is recruiting participants for a study at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre that seeks to understand minority stress and its impact on the brain and body. This work has broad implications, especially for 2SLGBTQIA+ Veterans and CAF members who may also experience unique stressors related to both identity and service. We are currently seeking CAF members, Veterans and civilians who identify as sexual and gender minorities and are living in the greater Ottawa area to participate in the Minority Stress Study. Your participation in this research would involve a brief telephone screener, a clinical assessment interview, completion of online questionnaires and visiting the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre for a neuroimaging fMRI scan. There is also an optional blood draw component.

COMMEMORATIONS CALENDAR

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