The program is set to run every Tuesday 10 am-12noon. It will be held at the Legion at 66 Church street in St. Marys. No registration is required as this is a drop-in event.
This is a free program for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and RCMP Veterans, allied forces and First Responders.
Buddy Check Coffee is a peer program offering comradeship in a relaxed environment, encouraging military, RCMP members, Veterans, and first responders to network and share experiences and stories over donuts and coffee. Led by the Legion’s Operational Stress Injury Special Section (Legion OSI) and hosted by Legion members, Buddy Check Coffee is helping Veterans in their community connect and support each other.
Veterans Affairs Canada reports that
“about one-fifth of Canadian Veterans experience a diagnosed mental health disorder at some time during their lives– the most common are depression, PTSD and anxiety disorders. In a 2010 study of Veterans who were released from service between 1998 and 2007, about 24% reported they had a diagnosed mental health condition such as PTSD, depression or anxiety.”
Chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Operational Stress Injuries are some of the least understood afflictions affecting military and RCMP members, Veterans, and first responders. As they are often left undiagnosed and/or misunderstood, or because symptoms often appear after release from the Armed Forces, Veterans are often left to their own devices to get the required medical care. They often cannot access the necessary diagnosticians and care providers because of the disconnect between Veterans Affairs Canada, provincial Ministries of Health, and the local health systems. To compound the challenge, the nature of OSIs often inhibits individuals from seeking help or accessing available resources.
For more information on the Buddy Check Program, contact the branch