Veterans Affairs

This House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs meeting was held on October 2, 2025, as part of a study on suicide prevention among veterans. Appearing were Steven Harris (Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs), Cyd Courchesne (Director General, Health Professionals and Chief Medical Officer, VAC), Major-General Scott Malcolm (Surgeon General, Canadian Armed Forces, DND), Amy Hall (Senior Epidemiologist, VAC), and Brigadier-General Serge Ménard (Commander, Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group, DND).

Steven Harris stated that Canadian veterans, especially younger veterans and women, face a much higher risk of suicide than the general population, with 65% of those who died by suicide having at least one mental health condition. He highlighted that VAC has cut wait times for disability benefits decisions in half (to 22 weeks) and reduced the backlog from 23,000 files, and noted a new mental health benefits program that automatically covers treatment costs while applications are reviewed. He recommended continued efforts to improve service speed and access, and acknowledged that "sanctuary trauma" from bureaucratic delays is a real concern affecting veterans' willingness to seek help.

Cyd Courchesne explained that suicide rates among veterans have remained stable since 1975, with male veterans at 1.4 times and female veterans at 1.8 times the risk of the general population, but the causes are multifactorial and difficult to pinpoint. She noted that VAC has established a women veterans unit and adjusted business processes to address higher denial rates for women, and that the Joint Suicide Prevention Strategy (2017) includes 63 initiatives, 50% of which are now permanently implemented, such as mental health first aid training and peer support programs. She recommended continued research and data collection to identify risk factors, and offered to share the strategy's details with the committee.

Major-General Scott Malcolm reported that CAF tracks suicide among active members, with rates generally stable at about 15 per year, and that most cases involve non-commissioned members with mental health conditions like depression or substance abuse. He noted that establishing causal links between service and suicide is extremely difficult, as many members have pre-existing trauma, and that the surgeon general's health research program supports mental health studies in collaboration with VAC. He recommended continued research collaboration and encouraged the committee to attend the upcoming Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research forum.

Amy Hall confirmed that the veteran suicide mortality study covers data from 1975 to 2016, with rates remaining stable over that period, and that VAC is conducting a new linkage this year to expand risk factor information. She noted that the Canadian Veteran Health Survey (2022) captures data on suicidal ideation and attempts, and that international comparisons show similar trends in Australia and the U.S., but declining rates in the U.K. She recommended using these surveys to better understand veteran experiences and offered to provide the data to the committee.

Brigadier-General Serge Ménard described the CAF Transition Group's approach, which assesses releasing members across seven domains of well-being (purpose, health, housing, social network, respect, financial security, and adaptability) and provides tailored support up to six months before release. He emphasized the importance of early engagement and follow-up post-transition to address developing issues. He did not make specific recommendations but noted the need for continued collaboration with VAC.

The committee briefly discussed procedural matters, including the scheduling of future witnesses for the study. Members agreed to proceed with five witnesses at the next meeting on October 7, and Mr. Richards recommended avoiding two-panel formats to maximize question time.