The Canadian Armed Forces Members and Veterans Mental Health Follow-up Survey is conducted by Statistics Canada in collaboration with the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (DND-CAF), Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and the University of Manitoba. The purpose of this survey is to re-assess the mental health of respondents who participated in a similar survey conducted in 2002. Information on a variety of topics related to mental health and well-being will be collected. Results from this survey will be used to assess mental health services provided by the DND-CAF and VAC. The University of Manitoba will use the data for research purposes.
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Confidentiality
The information you provide will be kept confidential. In addition, Statistics Canada will safeguard your identity by grouping your responses with those of other respondents when reporting results. Individual responses and results for very small groups will never be shared with government departments or agencies.
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Block Information on Topics covered in the survey
Topics covered in the survey
Information on a variety of topics related to mental health and well-being will be collected. Questions will be asked about:
- mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression
- chronic conditions, physical activity, stress and work-related stress
- social support, childhood experiences, deployment and military experiences
- access to, and use of, formal and informal mental health services and supports
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Published data
- latest news releases published in The Daily
- publications
- analysts and researchers
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Block Information on Survey-specific questions
Survey-specific questions
- What is the Canadian Forces Mental Health Survey?
- Why is this survey being conducted and how will the results be used?
- Why is Statistics Canada doing this survey?
- Who is being surveyed?
- Do I have to participate in this survey?
- What type of information will be collected?
- How do I know that my information will remain confidential?
- When will the results be available?
- Why does Statistics Canada use data linkage?
- How will I be contacted?
- Where will the interviews take place?
- How long will the interview take to complete?
What is the Canadian Forces Mental Health Survey?
The Canadian Armed Forces Members and Veterans Mental Health Follow-up Survey (CAFVMHS) collects information about the mental health and well-being of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members who had previously responded to the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey - Mental Health and Well-being – Canadian Forces. It will also gather information on the factors that affect their health and their use of health care services.
This survey will measure changes to the mental and physical health of current and former CAF members since the survey was originally conducted in 2002. As a result, for the first time there will be data that describes the impact of mental health disorders, on a range of outcomes among military personnel, over a period of time. This follow-up survey targets this gap by re-interviewing the original respondents from the 2002 survey.
Why is this survey being conducted and how will the results be used?
In order to provide an appropriate level of mental health services for current and former members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), it is essential to have an accurate picture of the state of mental health of its members. This survey will obtain updated estimates of the mental and physical health status and service needs of current and former CAF members.
The first survey in 2002 produced the first national estimates in Canada for a number of mental health disorders in the CAF. The information collected in this follow-up survey will provide valuable insights into how mental health has changed over time and what experiences and/or other health conditions have contributed to these changes.
Results from the CAFVMHS will be used to help assess mental health services in the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces (DND-CAF) and in Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC).
Results from this survey will be used by researchers from the University of Manitoba, the CAF, and VAC to strengthen existing programs and services.
Why is Statistics Canada doing this survey?
Statistics Canada is a recognized leader in survey collection. The Statistics Act, under which Statistics Canada has the authority to conduct surveys, protects the confidentiality of all the information it collects. All answers will be kept strictly confidential and used only for statistical purposes.
Who is being surveyed?
Only former and current members of the CAF who participated in a similar survey in 2002.
Do I have to participate in this survey?
Your participation in this survey is voluntary. However, Statistics Canada is contacting you now because you had originally participated in the 2002 survey. Your input is vital and cannot be replaced by anyone else. Since CAFVMHS is a follow-up survey, it is important that we receive a high response rate to ensure that an accurate and reliable measure of the mental and physical health changes among previous respondents can be measured over time. We appreciate your contribution and we are grateful for your continued participation in this survey.
What type of information will be collected?
Information on a variety of topics related to mental health and well-being will be collected. The survey asks questions about:
- mental health disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder, and depression;
- chronic conditions, physical activity, stress and work related stress;
- social support, childhood experiences, deployment and military experiences;
- access to, and use of, formal and informal mental health services and supports; and
- perceived and unmet needs for services and supports.
How do I know that my information will remain confidential?
Like all Statistics Canada surveys, this survey is conducted under the authority of the Statistics Act, which ensures the confidentiality of the information collected by the survey. Statistics Canada will safeguard your identity by grouping your responses with those of other respondents when reporting results. Individual responses and results for very small groups will never be shared with government departments or agencies.
When will the results be available?
The key findings from this survey will be released in the spring of 2019 on Statistics Canada's website.
Why does Statistics Canada use data linkage?
In addition to trying to cut down the length of the survey by not asking questions we already have the answers to, record linkage allows for more accurate data collection.
As this is a follow-up survey, data from 2002 will be used to compare the differences and/or changes in the mental and physical health outcomes reported from the original respondents. To conduct this type of analysis, a link between the 2002 CCHS-CF and the 2018 CAFVMHS is needed.
How will I be contacted?
Statistics Canada will send an introductory letter inviting respondents to participate in the survey. Interviewers will contact you by telephone to arrange for a mutually agreeable interview time.
Where will the interviews take place?
Interviews will take place at your home, at a mutually agreed upon time between you and the Statistics Canada interviewer for both current and former members. If you would prefer to do the interview at your workplace, arrangements can be made.
If I am a current regular or reserve force member can I participate in this survey during working hours?
You are not required to disclose that you are participating in the survey to anyone. However, your supervisor(s) and commanders at all levels should already be aware of the survey and have been asked to accommodate survey participation.
You can choose to have the survey conducted in your workplace instead of at home. However, you will be responsible for securing a private room to conduct the interview and for escorting Statistics Canada interviewers as needed.
How long will the interview take to complete?
Some interviews will take approximately 75 minutes. The length of the survey will vary for each respondent because some sections of the survey are only asked to individuals with certain mental health symptoms and experiences.
- Questionnaires: survey number 5084