Hope in hand: Honouring our needs this holiday season

The holiday season often brings a complex mix of emotions for Veterans and their Families. For some, it’s a time of joy and a chance to momentarily step away from difficult memories. For others, the season can be tough — marked by painful anniversaries, the weight of mental health challenges and the pressure of expectations and obligations. However you experience the holidays, know that your feelings are valid and uniquely yours. It’s important to honour where you are in your journey — put yourself first and set healthy boundaries.

These boundaries can look different for everyone — whether it means leaning into the support of your loved ones, giving back to your community or carving out quiet moments for yourself, there are many ways to create peace amid the busy holiday season. With self-care and compassion, it’s possible to find comfort and hope. Embrace what brings you peace to navigate through this time and even find moments of joy.

Hope in hand

Hope in hand is a curated holiday toolkit designed specifically for Veterans and Veteran Family members who find the festive season challenging. We understand that the holiday season can bring up difficult memories, unmet expectations and emotional strain. This toolkit provides calming, supportive phone backgrounds to help normalize these feelings and encourage you to set healthy boundaries during the season. It’s a reminder that things don’t have to be perfect — and that hope, peace and strength can still be found.

Download a background to help you find strength this season and give yourself permission to do what you need to do to find joy:

Holiday resources for Veterans and Families

• Peer support program directory: Access this online directory of peer support programs that are available to Veterans and their Families, searchable by location.
• Managing holiday stress: Ideas for making the holiday season a little happier and less stressful.
• Tips and strategies for supporting our kids during the holidays: Tips and strategies to help you support children affected by posttraumatic stress injury get the most out of the season.
• MyGrief.ca: Grief doesn’t stop for the holiday season. MyGrief.ca is a free e-learning resource to help people better understand and move through grief in different situations, including grief after trauma.
• Coping with the holidays: Tips and strategies for Veterans and Families to help reduce stress and create new memories this holiday season.

As the holiday season approaches, we want to express our gratitude to members of the Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police who are apart from their Families due to the demands of service. We sincerely appreciate the sacrifices you continue to make.