Mental Health and Operational Stress Injury Joint Speakers Bureau (JSB)
• Introduction • Curriculum • External Resources
Introduction
The Mental Health and Operational Stress Injury Joint Speakers Bureau (JSB) was created to build awareness of mental illness and operational stress injuries (OSIs) through education, reducing the stigma associated with mental illness and to increase understanding and acceptance of these conditions.
The JSB works to promote greater appreciation of the mental health challenges military personnel and their families may face and encourage early intervention in order to facilitate a healthy reintegration into military and civilian life. This is done through the following means:
- Deliver formal mental health and OSI education to CF members at CF schools across Canada;
- Increase mental health and OSI awareness through professional development briefings at the unit level;
- Deliver general mental health and OSI information to CF families;
- Assist the Chain of Command in better preparing sailors, soldiers, airmen and airwomen in building psychological resiliency before and after deployments; and
- Provide tangible and useful tools for leaders and CF members to assist subordinates and peers who are affected by mental health issues.
“The JSB educational program is based on effective strategies aimed at mental health promotion, mental illness prevention, and decreasing stigma.”
- JSB Paper, Fostering Growth in Mental Health
- Backgrounder: Mental Health Awareness Campaign
- News Release: CDS announces Mental Health Awareness Campaign
Curriculum
The Joint Speakers Bureau curriculum covers a wide range of topics and information related to mental health, with the primary educational focus being:
- The Mental Health Continuum Model
- Causes of operational stress injuries and their relationship to stress and mental health
- The roles of affected individuals, peers, leaders and families in addressing mental health issues and mental illness
- Stigma and misconceptions
- Warning signs
- Coping and modeling
- Stress countermeasures
- Supportive skills
- Enabling action
