New report summarizes community insights on barriers and solutions for access to mental health care for rural and remote Veterans and Families

Veterans and Families that live in rural and remote communities face unique barriers in accessing the mental health services they need. To better understand these barriers and explore possible solutions, the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families hosted a roundtable in Winnipeg, MB in October 2024 titled The art of the possible: Working together across systems to address barriers to mental health care for rural and remote Veterans and Families. Attendees included service providers, researchers, government policy makers, Veterans and Families with lived experience working or living in rural and remote communities. Through collaborative discussions and knowledge-sharing, participants offered their perspectives in identifying critical issues that are hindering care. These included challenges related to geographic isolation, limited providers and resources, lack of cultural competency and stigma.

Atlas has released a new report summarizing what we heard during this event. It shares the insights from the community with the goal that these findings can be used to inform change and create more equitable access to mental health care for Veterans and their Families in rural and remote communities.

INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT

The report includes a summary of some of the main challenges raised during this event, which fall within the following categories and key findings, each with their own specific population considerations:

• Access and availability
  • Limited providers and services
  • In-person and virtual service issues such as Internet reliability, cost and availability of Internet, technological proficiency
  • Use during mental health crises
• Integration and coordination
  • Jurisdictional and provincial limitations
  • Coordination between service providers
• Education and awareness
  • Specialization
  • Cultural competency
• Stigma and social perception
  • Awareness and education
  • Privacy and confidentiality
  • Identity and perception

Suggestions for ways to improve care for rural/remote Veterans and their Families included:

• Access and availability
  • Funding for providers and services, such as mobile outreach units and satellite care sites, loan forgiveness
  • Offering virtual and appropriate telehealth care when possible
  • Improving access and options for Veterans Affairs Canada services
  • Improving access to operational stress injury clinics by broadening services to be more accessible
• Integration and coordination
  • Revising policies regarding jurisdictional and provincial access to care
  • Connecting service providers by fostering connection between Family doctors and other mental health professionals
  • Strengthening the connection between Veteran Families and their surrounding communities
  • Leveraging existing community resources and mental health supports
• Education and training
  • Expanding cultural competency training
  • Increasing access to peer support
• Stigma and social perception
  • Increasing awareness that seeking help is a strength, not a weakness
  • Building supportive networks in rural and remote communities
  • Providing education and training for community members

Read the full the report: atlasveterans.ca/rural-remote-roundtable-report

Additionally, Atlas has collaborated with McMaster Health Forum to develop a rapid evidence profile (REP), which provides a high-level overview and quality assessment of current research on rural and remote Veterans and Families. The REP framework was informed by roundtable participants. Read the REP on the McMaster Health Forum website.

There is an opportunity to improve the mental health care landscape for rural and remote Veterans and Families by continuing to work collaboratively across systems, ensuring they receive the support they need and deserve. The insights learned from the roundtable lay the groundwork for further policy development, research and community advocacy, setting the stage for future efforts to create meaningful, systemic change.