When more help is needed and where to find it
While some people are able to navigate their grief, others become “stuck.” Their distress persists, their grief becomes prolonged, and they have a hard time engaging in life. While many people are able to move through their grief, others become depressed, and a few have thoughts of harming themselves.
Grief and Depression
While grief and depression share some similar features, they are not the same.
Grief is associated with loss. If you are grieving, you may experience changes to your thoughts, feelings, behaviour and thinking but this usually improves over time. Some people who are grieving may become clinically depressed, but many do not.
On the other hand, depression is characterized in part by a pervasive loss of joy in life, high levels of self-criticism, significant changes in sleep and appetite, severe anxiety or anger, and sometimes thoughts of suicide.
Signs of depression
Reaching out for help
It can be hard for Veterans to reach out for professional support because of their training and the service culture. They may see their vulnerability and their feelings as shameful or “weak”. In reality, it takes courage to reach out for help.
Finding the right fit
What works well for some, doesn’t for others. It’s important to find the right fit for you. Help can include connecting with friends, family, community and for some a spiritual community. Peer support and support groups can be very helpful as there is nothing quite like connecting with someone else who has experienced something similar.
When professional help and counselling is needed, it’s important to know that there are counsellors and health care providers who specialize in working with people who have PTSD, OSI, people who are experiencing grief and loss and those who are depressed. There are also those who specialize in working with couples, families, or children. It’s important to connect with someone who has the skills you need and who you trust.
For more support
To access professional help for CAF Veterans, former or current RCMP members, family members, or caregivers, start by calling the VAC Assistance Service 24-hour toll-free line at 1-800-268-7708. This service offers face-to-face psychological support, bereavement support, and referral services. You can also utilize the online chat service to schedule an appointment with a mental health professional.
Veterans, families, and active members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) can access the Canadian Armed Forces Member Assistance Program (CFMAP) 24-hour toll-free line at 1-800-268-7708 or by TDD at 1-800-567-5803.