The VAC Assistance Service

Personal problems can affect your quality of life. A VAC Assistance Service mental health professional can help you maintain and improve your well-being.

What is the VAC Assistance Service?

It is a voluntary and confidential service, to help all Veterans and their families as well as primary caregivers who have personal concerns that affect their well-being. The service is available to you free of charge.

Is this therapy?

This is a short-term problem-solving service and very often only a few sessions are required. If long-term help or a more specialized service is needed, a referral can be made, with your consent, to a specialist in your community.

What type of concerns?

The VAC Assistance Service can help you deal with the following concerns:

• transition to civilian life
• marital and family problems
• interpersonal relations
• personal and emotional problems
• stress and burn-out
• conflict at work or home
• grief
• any other concerns affecting your well-being

Who offers these services?

The VAC Assistance Service uses mental health professionals to provide these services.

What is the cost?

The cost of the program is paid for by Veterans Affairs Canada. If you need specialized or longer term help, your mental health professional will refer you to an appropriate professional resource. The mental health professional will make every effort to direct you or your family to free or affordable services. These services may be covered by group health insurance plans (such as the Public Service Health Care Plan).

Is the service confidential?

Yes! Mental health professionals are bound by their code of ethics to guarantee confidentiality.

Date modified:

2014-10-23