Canadian Armed Forces releases Clinician Handbook on Suicide Prevention

As part of a new initiative in partnership with the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA), the release of the Canadian Armed Forces Clinician Handbook on Suicide Prevention will act as a new tool to ensure continued best practice, and evidence-based care is provided to CAF members by CAF health care clinicians.

“Our government recognizes the sacrifices military personnel make in the service of our country, which is why we are committed to ensuring the women and men of our Canadian Armed Forces receive the highest standard of care and support. I am pleased to deliver the Canadian Armed Forces Clinician Handbook on Suicide Prevention. Suicide is a deeply complex, multi-dimensional phenomenon with no single cause and no simple solution. I am optimistic that the handbook will enable the Canadian Armed Forces Health Services Group to prevent suicide among our members,” said, Harjit S. Sajjan, minister of defence.

The handbook was written for Canadian Forces Health Services mental health and primary care clinicians (military, public servants, and contracted staff) who are responsible for health care delivery to CAF members. It will provide CAF clinicians with a formalized and standardized approach to identify, screen, and manage patients at risk for suicide.

“As clinicians working on the front line of mental health services, psychiatrists strive to create a safe environment in which people can heal. This manual continues that spirit of recovery and healing. With suicide being the third leading cause of mortality among Canadian Armed Forces personnel, the Canadian Psychiatric Association is proud to be a partner in this important initiative that will provide improved care and support for the brave men and women who serve Canada,” said Dr. Wei-Yi Song, president, Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA).

The handbook was released in October, as a key initiative of the Suicide Prevention Strategy, previously announced on October 5, 2017.