When The Royal’s Operational Stress Injury (OSI) Clinic receives a referral, that new client is called within 24 hours and soon after that, the clinicians begin discussing next steps for assessment and treatment. “Clients have got a team that has their back already and they haven’t even stepped through the doors,” says Shelley Hale, director of The Royal’s OSI Clinic.
When Canadian Forces veteran Sammy Sampson reached out to the OSI Clinic, he wondered how he would “go from being the guy who’s been in seven wars to being the guy who’s got his hand out asking for help.” But right away, he was pulled into the strong network of support that is the hallmark of this treatment program. Sammy felt able to open up about what he was feeling and from there it was a team effort to get him back on track.
“Sammy was ready and it worked,” says Shelley “When that happens, it’s phenomenal to watch”
For Shelley, working as a team is fundamental to recovery. The clinic’s staff members work closely together, tapping into their collective skills and knowledge to help each client – “It doesn’t matter how many people you actually sit with in a room, you’ve got all 15 of us behind you, working with you.”
The clients are also an integral part of the team; in addition to actively participating in their own individual treatments, many take part in group programs. Through these groups and through informal connections made around the clinic, clients build a peer support network. “They form a unit again,” says Shelley, and it’s a unit of people who understand and will look out for each other.
“Our clients go into the military because they want to serve and when they leave and they take off that uniform, it doesn’t just stop for them. Every single one of them wants to give something back which is really cool to see because they want to help. They are just there for each other still.”
“I think when people are moving through their journey and their mental health issues, when they start to become hopeful, they are well on their way to recovery.”