Supporting equitable access to mental health care for rural and remote Veterans and their families

Canadian Veterans experience higher rates of mental health challenges compared to the general population and require different approaches to services that are tailored their unique experiences. However, Veterans who live outside of urban centres can face significant challenges accessing the services they need to thrive. In this rapid evidence profile, we examine the barriers that Veterans living in rural (population of less than 10,000 people), remote (located over 350 km from nearest service centre with year-round access), or northern communities (north of 60 degrees latitude) experience when accessing mental health and substance-use services, as well as what we know about different approaches that can be used in these communities to expand access to these services.