The Women Veteran's Health Mission

For most Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veterans, the transition from military to civilian life is completed successfully. In the 2016 Life After Service Survey (LASS). However, 32% reported difficulties and it appears that this proportion has been rising among those most recently released. Moreover, 28% indicated that their partners had difficulty with the release. Among veterans, an increased prevalence of chronic health problems is believed to be one of the primary reasons for challenging transitions and ongoing difficulties with civilian life. The most common health issues are chronic back problems (41%), arthritis (29%), and mental health conditions including depression (21%), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (16%), and anxiety (15%).

A recent survey comparing Veterans to Canadians from the general population demonstrated that in age and sex adjusted analyses, both male and female Veterans were significantly more likely to suffer from the above mentioned physical and mental health conditions. Chronic pain was particularly noteworthy among Veteran men (39%) and women (49%) (Hall AL, Sweet J, Tweel M, MacLean MB. BMJ Mil Health. 2022 Feb;168(1):82-87. doi: 10.1136/bmjmilitary-2020-001526. Epub 2020 Aug 30. PMID: 32868291; PMCID: PMC8788043).

Regular physical activity has been shown to be an effective treatment for all the above conditions, both alone and in combination with other therapeutic options. Yet regular physical activity is challenging for most Canadians with or without with chronic health issues.

In 2024, Women Veterans testified in a Canadian Parliamentary Hearing about the discrimination they had faced during military service. They also spoke of the ongoing challenges associated with finding timely rehabilitation services for their health problems that had arisen during their time serving. (Invisible No More. The Experiences of Canadian Women Veterans: https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/ACVA/news-release/13150242). Release from the CAF also reduces social connectivity and a sense of community as Veterans try to re-integrate into society. Providing women veterans with peer-support programs for women only, was one of the final recommendations from this Parliamentary Hearing.

The investigators therefore propose to adapt a web-based program to engage women Veterans and their families in wellness challenges (Missions) to increase participants' physical activity, improve sleep, reduce stress, eat healthy, manage weight, etc. while increasing social connectivity and peer support. Online Chat Forums, monitored daily by the investigators, will also be available to support conversations among women Veterans focusing on common health and wellness issues.