Post-deployment screening in the Canadian military: Translating evaluation research into program recommendations

Area of Science:

• Military mental health
• Post-deployment screening
• Healthcare program evaluation

Background:

• Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) post-deployment screening, established in 2002, requires service members returning from international deployments to undergo a mental health assessment.
• The screening process involves a self-reported questionnaire reviewed by a mental health professional to identify potential mental health issues and facilitate timely care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the CAF's post-deployment screening program.
• To identify areas for improvement in the screening process to better support service members' mental health.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for the ongoing modernization of the screening program.

Main Methods:

• Consolidation of key findings from a recent evaluation project on the CAF post-deployment screening program.
• Analysis of the program's performance against its intended goals.
• Identification of both expected outcomes and unexpected findings.

Main Results:

• The evaluation confirmed the benefits of the post-deployment screening program and found it largely performed as expected.
• Unexpected findings indicated a need for enhanced communication regarding screening roles and benefits.
• Areas for improvement include monitoring screening completion and follow-up care, and augmenting interviewer training.

Conclusions:

• The CAF post-deployment screening program is beneficial but requires specific enhancements for optimal effectiveness.
• Recommendations include improved communication, monitoring systems, and training to support the program's modernization.
• Evaluation findings offer guidance for refining the screening process to better serve CAF members.