Operational Stress Injuries: Impact on Family Mental Health and Well-being

This study was part of a larger scoping review and environmental scan conducted for Veterans Affairs Canada on the effects of operational stress injuries (OSIs) on the mental health and wellbeing of Veterans’ families. This paper focuses broadly on the relationships between combat (and/or deployment more generally), OSIs (primarily post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)), and the family. Based on the scoping review, the paper finds that existing research investigates the impacts of a Veteran’s OSI on the family, but also how various aspects of the family (such as family functioning, family support, etc.) can impact a Veteran living with an OSI.

Transitioning Towards a Development Permit System: Recommendations for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Since 2007, Ontario Regulation 608/06 now provides all municipalities with the authority to establish a development permit system (DPS); however, much of this regulatory power and its functions are largely misunderstood by both professionals and the general public, which has led to a lack of widespread municipal implementation. One main contributor to the uncertainty is the lack of academic literature. Currently, the most comprehensive document has been produced by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH), Development Permit System: A Handbook for Municipal Implementation. The study’s key objective is to identify, analyze, and evaluate the MMAH Handbook in order to effectively provide an updated set of recommendations within the context of Ontario.

A Scoping Review of Psychological Interventions for PTSD in Military Personnel and Veterans.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has emerged as a key concern for military and veteran populations. This article describes what is being done programmatically and therapeutically to treat PTSD in military personnel and veterans returning from deployment. This scoping review demonstrates that (1) research published in this area has been rapidly increasing since its inception in the 1980s; (2) the vast majority of articles focus on cognitive-behavioral approaches to treatment, and this area of the literature presents strong evidence for these approaches; and (3) there is a lack of randomized controlled trials for treatments, such as art therapies and group therapies.