The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are jointly committed to the health and wellness of every Defence Team member.
March 04, 2022 – Ottawa, ON – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are jointly committed to the health and wellness of every Defence Team member.
Today, DND and the CAF released the Defence Team Total Health and Wellness Strategy. This comprehensive strategy focuses on improving the wellness of the Defence Team for a strengthened workforce, best able to meet the varied challenges of both professional and personal life.
It brings together and builds upon existing strategies, programs, and services that have established the foundation for a holistic approach to health and wellness for all Defence Team members.
Through this strategy, DND and the CAF is investing over $950 million in new and existing health and wellness programs and services benefitting all Defence Team members.
This new strategy is aligned with the Government of Canada’s support for the health and wellness of the Defence Team through its Defence Policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, and includes the important work being done to address sexual misconduct, systemic racism, harassment and discrimination, as well as efforts to support diversity and inclusion. This includes the creation of the Chief, Professional Conduct and Culture (CPCC) organization to lead cultural transformation, and ensure that our behaviours reflect the very best parts of our organization, and Canadian society.
In collaboration with the CPCC, the Anti-Racism Secretariat will play an important role in fostering a Defence Team environment anchored in equity, dignity and respect for all members across DND/CAF.
The Total Health and Wellness Strategy establishes the foundation for a more holistic approach to health and wellness that considers factors both inside and outside of the workplace that affect the well-being of the Defence Team. It is designed to empower the institution, leaders and Defence Team members with the tools they need to improve their health and well-being.
Within the strategy, a Total Health and Wellness Monitoring Office has been established to ensure ongoing program monitoring of the Total Health and Wellness Strategy action plans, and the application of lessons-learned and evidence-based decision making. This approach will facilitate continuous improvements to enable a healthy and resilient Defence Team.
“It is an important day for the Defence Team as we announce the publication of the Defence Team Total Health and Wellness Strategy. This strategy reinforces our commitment to health and wellness through continued investment in related strategies, programs and services for the entire Defence Team, including our retiring and ill or injured members. The health and wellness of all Defence Team members and their families, is, without a doubt, my top priority.“
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence
“Enhancing our health and wellness services are crucial to the health and operational effectiveness of the Canadian Armed Forces. We have a duty to ensure our personnel remain mentally and physically fit, ready to meet the demands of our contemporary operational environment and the challenges of our military lifestyle. This important strategy builds on our efforts to ensure military and non-military members of the Defence Team are cared for and supported as they under take their most important task defending Canada and Canadians.”
General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff