Counselling Service Available For Veterans

The Veterans Affairs Canada Assistance Service is a voluntary and confidential counselling service delivered through a nation-wide team of counsellors and accessed initially through a toll-free line. The service, which provides access to professional counselling 24 hours a day, seven days per week, is delivered on VAC=s behalf by Health Canada. The VAC Assistance Service is similar to the Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program.

The purpose of the VAC Assistance Service is to assist individuals in overcoming problems that can affect their lives such as:

• marital and family problems;
• transitional problems;
• emotional and psychological problems;
• substance abuse;
• financial difficulties; and
• other types of personal problems, such as interpersonal conflicts, legal difficulties or gambling.

The following are eligible:

• Former members of the Canadian Forces who have served at any time since the commencement of World War I;
• Canadian merchant mariner of World War I, World War II or the Korean War as defined in the Pension Act;
• Former members of the RCMP; and
• Families of the above mentioned persons.

Staff answering the phones are trained and experienced counsellors who identify initial needs and make appropriate referrals to professional accredited counsellors located near the client, for short-term counselling of up to eight sessions per presenting issue.

The toll free number is 1-800-268-7708. More information on the VAC Assistance Service may be obtained at the website www.vac-acc.gc.ca/clients/sub.cfm?source=forces/assiserve.

Aiding An Allied Veteran
The Dominion Command Service Bureau was called Aug. 22 by the United Kingdom Veterans Agency asking if we could intervene to help a stranded British Army veteran who was penniless, destitute, and living in the chapel at the Halifax International Airport.

Peter, the British Army veteran, had served from 1989 to 1995 in the Royal Dragoon Guards in England and Germany. He had just spent approximately six months in Canada on a visitor’s visa and wanted to get back home. Peter suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression. He had previously initiated a request to the U.K. Veterans Agency, seeking assistance for his repatriation in order that he might obtain medical help. Peter’s request prompted the call from the U.K. to our office seeking repatriation assistance.

They gave us the name of a clergyman at the Halifax Airport who was assisting this allied veteran by housing him at the chapel while advocating on his behalf. He was to be our point of contact.

One of our service officers made contact by telephone and interviewed the clergyman and the veteran in the course of initiating appropriate benevolent support. He confirmed the veteran’s eligibility and submitted the grant request for approval. With approval secured by the trustees, Legion staff obtained a one-way ticket to the U.K. for Peter and made the necessary arrangements with one of the airlines. Within 24 hours, Peter was on his way home to England where Veterans Agency representatives were waiting to provide required assistance.

It’s a good example of a successful intervention.

Serving You is written by Legion command service officers. To reach a service officer call toll-free 1-877-534-4666, or consult a command website.