Overview

Sexual and gender-based discrimination, harassment and violence is a serious problem within militaries around the world, including here in Canada. Such incidents can have lasting and profound impacts on Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and Veterans, as well as their Families, the military institution and the broader public.

Military sexual misconduct is a form of sexual and gender-based discrimination, harassment, and violence. Experiencing or witnessing sexual misconduct during service can create various psychological, physical and social “wounds,” also known as military sexual trauma (MST).

This page offers general information about incidents of sexual and gender-based discrimination, harassment and violence (formerly referred to as military sexual misconduct) and as well as the associated harms (military sexual trauma). Resources specifically for Veterans, Family members and friends, and for health care providers are also available.

Resources

In Canada, there are few dedicated resources and supports for Veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST), their loved ones and the health care providers who work with them.

To raise awareness and respond to this gap, the Atlas Institute collaborated with Veterans, Veteran Family members and friends and health care providers to develop a collection of resources designed to improve knowledge about MST and build capacity for support.

About MST

The following resource offers general information about sexual and gender-based discrimination, harassment and violence, including key definitions and statistics as well as a list of potential impacts and support options:

For Veterans

There are different tools and strategies that can be helpful for navigating the impacts of MST. The following two resources are designed to help expand awareness of experiences and impacts of MST and the available options for support. They include key facts and definitions, as well as tips and strategies.

For friends and Family members

The effects of MST are far-reaching, and friends and Family members can often find themselves in the position of providing support. However, it can be challenging to understand what their loved one is going through, the best ways to talk to them or others about it, and different ways to support them.

As Family members learn about their loved one’s experience(s) and witness the impacts, they can also be affected. For this reason, it is crucial that that they have the necessary knowledge and tools to support their loved ones and to look after themselves too.

The following four resources aim to improve understanding about MST and to offer practical information and guidance to support oneself and others:

For health care providers

Many service providers may be unaware that when military members leave service, their health care services transition from those provided by the Canadian Armed Forces to their local provincial or territorial system. As such, health care providers may be treating a Veteran or Veteran Family member without realizing it, including those who have been impacted by MST. Knowing that you are providing care to a Veteran impacted by MST can lead to a more sensitized understanding of their care needs and strengthen best practices in supporting them.

The following four resources provide introductory information intended to raise health care providers’ awareness of the unique military and Veteran-specific factors that can affect care and to suggest ways to enhance care based on this awareness.

Guides

Videos

Trust as a bridge to health care

Learn more about the role and importance of trust when providing care to Veterans impacted by MST.

Screening as a key to support

Learn more about help-seeking attitudes and behaviours among Veterans impacted by MST and the role of screening.

Quick facts

• Thousands of CAF members are impacted by sexual and gender-based discrimination, harassment and violence at some point during their career.
• Certain groups are more at risk, including: women, single people, young people (under 39 years old), junior non-commissioned officers or junior officers, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, Indigenous peoples, racialized people.
• Peers and supervisors are the most common perpetrators.
• Many members choose not to report incidents, with around half going unreported.
• There are many barriers to reporting, such as fear of career repercussions, of not being believed or of no change resulting from reporting.
• Those affected by MST can experience a complex range of impacts, including physical, behavioural, emotional and spiritual. Family members may also feel these impacts.

Advisory committees

The resources for Veterans, Family and friends, and health care providers were developed in collaboration with advisory committees. We are grateful to the advisory members for sharing their time, expertise and experiences with us.