PTSD Coach Canada

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Key Details

Organisation Name

Veterans Affairs Canada

Location

191 Great George St Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 8M9
Canada

Social

eMHIC Member Status

Community Member

At a Glance

Description

PTSD Coach Canada is a mobile application providing current information about operational stress injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder, where to find support, and tools to help manage symptoms and stress. Available for download from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Implementation Status

Routine service delivery

PTSD Coach Canada is an education and symptom management tool used prior to, or as part of, a care plan with a mental health professional.

Available on Android and iOS.

Target Population

Veterans

Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) with symptoms associated with PTSD.

Serving members of the CAF

Serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces with symptoms associated with PTSD.

Family members of above groups

Family members of Veterans and serving CAF members for self-use or supporting others.

Friends of above groups

Friends of Veterans and serving CAF members for self-use or supporting others.

Impact & Outcomes

April 2025– March 2026
503
Monthly users (Android: 341; iOS: 162)
503
Monthly users (Android: 341; iOS: 162)

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Initiative Overview

The Current Gap

This mobile application gives Veterans and their families clear and up-to-date information about operational stress injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder. It explains where to find support, and provides tools to help manage symptoms and stress. The app is designed for those who need some help but do not require, or aren’t ready to seek, a higher level of support or services.

Our Solution

The PTSD Coach Canada mobile app can help Veterans and their families learn about and manage symptoms that can occur after trauma.

Features include:
– Reliable and current information on PTSD and effective treatments
– Convenient, easy-to-use tools to help with the management of distress associated with PTSD
– A self-guided safety plan for suicide prevention
– Information on crisis support and how to get help

Key Features

1

Learn

Reliable and current information on PTSD and effective treatments

2

Track Progress

PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) self-assessment. Allows users to track how their symptoms change over time and provides feedback based on their scores.

3

Manage Symptoms

Tools to help with the management of symptoms that can occur after trauma.

4

Get Support

Information on crisis support and how to get help

5

Safety Plan

Personalized, self-guided, suicide safety plan, with coping strategies and resources to keep safe during times of crisis

Collaboration in Action

Main Collaborators

  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
Department of National Defence, Canada

Join Our Global Community

Three ways to get involved:

Choose the level that fits.

Key Learnings

Challenges centred on the technical complexity of maintaining the Department’s only application, including sourcing qualified contractors and working within limited resourcing.
Plan for more time than anticipated for coding, testing and development. Technical work often involves unexpected issues, particularly when you are not in the business of maintaining applications.

Allowing for flexibility and extra time can help manage risks and keep the initiative on track.
This initiative is a strong example of international collaboration. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) generously shared the code base for their application, providing us with a critical starting point. Without this contribution, it would have been significantly more challenging to develop and release a similar bilingual application for Canadians within the available resources and timelines.

Looking Ahead

eMHIC Directory_Key Contacts (4)

Key Contact

Jonathan O’Keefe
Acting Director, Directorate of Mental Health
Veterans Affairs Canada

PROMOTION

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