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All rights reserved. Mental Health Benefits coverage includes prescription drugs and treatment services as outlined in Part 1 of the Veterans Health Care Regulations.

Examples include:. In addition, Prescription Drugs POC 10 and Related Health Services POC 12 can be covered under Mental Health Benefits. Some Medical Services POC 6 benefits can also be covered under certain circumstances if you are living outside of Canada.

Please note: expenses for Cannabis for Medical Purposes and health-related travel are not covered under Mental Health Benefits.

However , you should save your Cannabis for Medical Purposes and health-related travel receipts so that you can request reimbursement if you later qualify for the Treatment Benefits program following a favourable decision. Requests for reimbursement must be submitted within 18 months from the date on which the expenditure was incurred.

Please visit the Treatment Benefits page for more information on how to claim such expenses. Mental Health Benefits does not impact your eligibility for other VAC benefits, services or programs.

If you already have a Medavie Blue Cross health card, you can start using it to access mental health services after qualifying for Mental Health Benefits. You will not need a new Medavie card.

If you do not have a Medavie Blue Cross health card, one will be sent to you by mail within 10 days of your Mental Health Benefits eligibility notification. If you already have a Medavie Blue Cross health card, you can start using it to access mental health services after we notify you that you qualify for Mental Health Benefits.

Find registered providers in your area by contacting us or through your Medavie Blue Cross account. For more information on how to apply for claim reimbursements, visit our Treatment Benefits page. Please note : Some treatments or services may need pre-authorization.

To find out if pre-authorization is needed, your service provider can contact us or call Medavie at Most services will only need pre-authorization once. If you re-enroll as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, you will no longer have Mental Health Benefits coverage. This does not apply to Reserve Force members Class A or Class B less than days because these groups do not have health coverage from the CAF.

Your Mental Health Benefits coverage stops once you become a full-time serving member of the CAF, as you will receive health coverage from them. Mental Health Benefits is only available to Veterans who apply for a disability benefit for mental health conditions such as anxiety and depressive disorders, or trauma-and-stressor-related disorders.

However, we may be able to offer your other forms of assistance. Consider contacting the VAC Assistance Service : Call to speak to a mental health professional right now, or use the online chat to set up an appointment. The approach to reviews for benefits and services under Mental Health Benefits will be the same as that used for services or benefits denied under the Treatment Benefits Program.

Program participants can request up to 2 levels of review if they are dissatisfied with any decision made under Mental Health Benefits.

Information on how to request a review is included in the Explanation of Benefits received from Medavie Blue Cross if a claim is denied.

Note: Many provinces and territories across Canada are experiencing longer than average wait times to schedule mental health appointments. This service is available to all Veterans and their families, even if they have not applied for VAC benefits or services.

You can stay with your current health professional while accessing services through Mental Health Benefits, and also if you become eligible for coverage under the Treatment Benefits program. Mental health conditions eligible for coverage under Mental Health Benefits fall under three groups:.

Prescription Drugs POC 10 and Related Health Services POC 12 are eligible for coverage under Mental Health Benefits. Some Medical Services POC 6 benefits can be covered under certain circumstances if you are living outside of Canada. If you have questions about Mental Health Benefits and reside outside Canada, please contact Foreign Countries Operations by phone or through My VAC Account.

You need to get pre-authorization for the initial treatment of some services. Pre-authorization requests can be made by you or your provider. Please review the Benefit Grid to determine when you need to make a pre-authorization request. NOTE : If you travel or move outside of Canada after your benefits are already approved by VAC, you will still be eligible until you have reached the maximum number of visits according to the Benefit Grid.

You will need to request an extension of treatment if more sessions are required. Requests for extension can be made at any time. Your provider will need to write a report explaining why additional services are required. Although they cannot register with Medavie Blue Cross, your provider decides if they want to bill directly to Medavie Blue Cross.

Please submit your claims for reimbursement through My VAC Account , by fax , or by mail to:. Payments can be issued in Canadian currency via cheque or foreign currency via bank draft, money order or wire transfer. Mental Health Benefits FAQ General What is Mental Health Benefits?

Who is eligible for Mental Health Benefits? How is eligibility for Mental Health Benefits determined? I am a serving member of the CAF, do I qualify? Are family members eligible for Mental Health Benefits coverage? How do I apply for Mental Health Benefits?

I applied for a disability benefit before 1 April Do I qualify? How does that work? Once a disability benefit decision is made, what happens to my Mental Health Benefits coverage?

What types of services are covered under Mental Health Benefits? Will eligibility for Mental Health Benefits impact my other VAC benefits and services? How do I access services covered by Mental Health Benefits?

How do I get a Medavie Blue Cross health card? How do I claim my Mental Health Benefits expenses? What happens if I re-enroll as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces while receiving Mental Health Benefits coverage?

What happens to my Mental Health Benefits coverage if I am a Reservist who accepts Class 'C' or Class 'B' service for more than days?

Am I eligible for coverage?

We might start to feel unsettled, but move back to feeling healthy in a few days. Or we might move from feeling unsettled to really struggling. This is when we may need to seek professional support. Many of us will experience a mental health crisis in our lives, but we don't stay in crisis.

We'll move beyond the crisis into a period of healing and then another healthy period when we've recovered. On this page we explain what each of these periods looks like and what you can do to maintain or improve your mental health.

I feel capable and confident in my ability to handle daily pressures. I am thinking clearly and am hopeful about the future. I will maintain my healthy routines and stay connected with loved ones. I haven't been myself lately.

I feel irritable and am having trouble concentrating. Speak with friends, family or GP. Practice self-care. Contact us or consider low-intensity or online therapies. My mood swings have been more frequent. I feel distressed and a growing sense of hopelessness.

I think I might need professional support. Practise self-care. I feel worthless and unable to control my negative thoughts. Daily tasks feel impossible. I need professional support immediately. Seek support from a GP or another health care professional. Ask someone for support with this if needed.

My moods have been more stable and I'm thinking more clearly. I'm starting to feel like myself again. Focus on maintaining improvement. Be kind to yourself and keep going if you have small setbacks. I feel stronger and more resilient. I have a better understanding of myself and am better equipped to handle stress moving forward.

I know what coping strategies work for me, and I will use them alongside practising self-care. Hear from our speakers Emily, Sean and Sandi as they share their experience of mental health and support.

Read transcript. Home Learn about mental health What is mental health? What is mental health? Research shows that good mental health is linked to: improved learning creativity higher levels of productivity better social relationships good physical health increased life expectancy.

Mental health definition Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.

It is an integral component of health and well-being that underpins our individual and collective abilities to make decisions, build relationships and shape the world we live in.

World Health Organisation The mental health continuum It can be hard to talk about mental health. Why a mental health continuum? Healthy I feel capable and confident in my ability to handle daily pressures. Your plan will cover as many hours of counselling as you and your provider determine you need.

The mental health provider must be registered with Health Benefits. Options to find a registered mental health provider:. Even if you do not have status, you may be eligible for mental health coverage through one of the specialized mental health programs funded by Indigenous Services Canada.

You may be eligible if you are a former student, or are a family member of a former student, who attended an Indian Residential School or an Indian Day School. You may also be eligible if you are experiencing trauma or distress stemming from missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada.

You must see a provider who is registered with the Health Benefits Program to receive coverage for your counselling services. If you need travel assistance to access counselling, please contact the Medical Transportation Program email: Transportation fnha.

ca ; phone: If you prefer virtual appointments, talk to your provider about Telehealth options. Your first appointment is about determining if the provider is the right fit for you. You can change to another registered provider at any time.

Cancel your appointment ahead of time if you can no longer make it. Health Benefits does not pay for missed appointments and your provider may charge you for the cost of your appointment if you do not show up.

If you have any questions about your mental health plan, how to access coverage, how to find a mental health provider or why a claim was denied, call Health Benefits at Some services are considered Exclusions. Exclusions cannot be covered as an exception and cannot be appealed.

Some examples of common mental health Exclusions are:. You can call Health Benefits at to learn more about what is covered. When coverage for a mental health service has been denied, you have the right to appeal the decision. Items and services that are Exclusions cannot be appealed.

Coverage is available for mental health counselling from the four Health Benefit administered programs described below. You do not need to apply for coverage through a specific program. You will be assigned to a program based on your eligibility.

The Mental Wellness and Counselling MWC program is designed to support clients who are in need of professional assistance to resolve emotional distress and enjoy greater wellness. All Health Benefits clients are eligible for the MWC program. The Indian Day School Health Support Services IDS HSS is a national program administered in BC through Health Benefits.

Services are available for former students, or family members of a former student, who attended an Indian Day School.