9.0 Mental Health
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) provides a wide range of mental health services and support for Veterans and their families. The tables below outline the increasing number of Veterans in receipt of disability benefits for a mental health condition.
Table 9.1 Veterans with Psychiatric Disability in Receipt of Disability Benefits
| Veterans | Actuals as of March 31, 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | 2018–19 | 2019–20 | 2020–21 | 2021–22 | |
| War Service | 751 | 627 | 505 | 387 | 308 |
| Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) | 21,872 | 24,676 | 27,470 | 30,949 | 36,864 |
| Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) | 5,107 | 5,848 | 6,790 | 8,315 | 10,864 |
| Missing Service Code | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: Veterans (in receipt of disability benefits) with a psychiatric diagnosis (incl. PTSD) | 27,734 | 31,151 | 34,765 | 39,651 | 48,036 |
| War Service | 509 | 436 | 366 | 284 | 234 |
| CAF | 15,232 | 16,893 | 18,623 | 20,876 | 24,328 |
| RCMP | 4,187 | 4,780 | 5,549 | 6,877 | 9,086 |
| Missing Service Code | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: Veterans (in receipt of disability benefits) with a PTSD diagnosis | 19,930 | 22,109 | 24,538 | 28,037 | 33,648 |
Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch
Table 9.2 Veterans with Mental Health Conditions by Age and Sex as of March 2022
| Age | Male | Female | Unknown | Total | % by Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30 | 559 | 272 | 2 | 833 | 2% |
| 30 to 39 | 6,405 | 1,403 | 1 | 7,809 | 16% |
| 40 to 49 | 9,108 | 2,554 | 2 | 11,664 | 24% |
| 50 to 59 | 12,631 | 2,983 | 16 | 15,630 | 33% |
| 60 to 69 | 7,378 | 1,317 | 16 | 8,711 | 18% |
| 70 or more | 3,244 | 137 | 8 | 3,389 | 7% |
| Total | 39,325 | 8,666 | 45 | 48,036 | 100% |
| % by Sex | 82% | 18% | 0% | 100% | - |
Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch
Table 9.3 Mental Health – Quick Facts as of March 2022
Quick Facts
- 33% of all Veterans in receipt of VAC benefits have disability benefits for a service-related psychiatric diagnosis.
- 70% of Veterans in receipt of disability benefits for a mental health condition have PTSD.
- 52% of Veterans in receipt of disability benefits for a mental health condition are married or have a common-law partner.
- 22% of Veterans in receipt of disability benefits for a mental health condition are also eligible for Rehabilitation Program.
- 41% of Veterans in receipt of disability benefits for a mental health condition are in receipt of Veterans Independence Program (VIP) benefits.
Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch