Lockheed Martin Canada Supports Mental Health Programs for Military Families Across Canada

In recognition of Mental Health Week, led by the Canadian Mental Health Association, Lockheed Martin Canada is proud to support a variety of initiatives that celebrate, protect and promote mental health. This past year has been especially challenging for Canadian military families coping with the impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic, in addition to what they normally cope with. In response, Lockheed Martin Canada’s single largest philanthropic contribution to date, $300,000, was donated to programs supporting the mental health of children and youth from military families across Canada. To date, the multi-year funding has already directly benefitted over 500 children and youth.

By partnering with Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS), and local Military Family Resource Centres (MFRCs) in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, Lockheed Martin Canada supports important initiatives providing military families with tangible relief during a very challenging period.

“We are grateful to Lockheed Martin Canada for their unwavering support of military families in Canada. These new programs and services go a long way in providing vital support for children and youth helping to ensure their resiliency.” commented Commodore Sean N. Cantelon (Ret’d), CEO, Canadian Forces Moral and Welfare Services.

Supporting the military community with non-profit partners is a large part of what Lockheed Martin does, both as a company and as an employer. The past year has underlined the importance of access to mental health programs and resources for military families who may concurrently face relocation, operational separations, and the risk of the profession of arms in addition to COVID-related stressors.

“We know the impact COVID-19 has had on everyone’s wellbeing, and I am incredibly proud of this partnership with Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services that is providing more access to tailored and timely mental health resources for children and youth of military families through their local centres,” added Lorraine Ben, chief executive, Lockheed Martin Canada.

Below is a list of military family programs supported by Lockheed Martin Canada’s donation in 2020:

• • • Extending the delivery of a national CAF Kids Crisis Text Line by 4-5 years, dedicated to ensuring children, youth and young adults from military families have free access to mental health and wellbeing support in both English and French. Powered by Kids Help Phone, and also supported by True Patriot Love Foundation, kids can text the keyword CAFKIDS to 686868 for mental health support.
    • In Halifax, Nova Scotia, the MFRC partnered with the Tranquility Online program to teach life-long skills to military family members, helping both parents and youth manage their own mental health during stressful or difficult situations.
    • The Region of Montreal MFRC created a peer support network for adolescent girls from military families delivered fully online. The interactive information sessions and discussion groups cover a wide variety of topics. One popular program saw several hundred parents participate in online sessions related to children’s mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    •  Esquimalt MFRC provides a monthly book sharing program called the Imagination Library, providing children ages 0-5 with a different book each month, in collaboration with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (an international non-for-profit working to support enhanced education outcomes for children).
    •  The Calgary MFRC also provides the Imagination Library as well as counselling services for children and youth struggling with complex mental health challenges and tutoring for those with academic difficulties.

For additional information visit Lockheed Martin’s website.