Taking a moment for your mental health | A message from the Defence Team Mental Health Champions

Taking a moment for your mental health | A message from the Defence Team Mental Health Champions

January 21, 2026 - Defence Stories

This year's Bell Let's Talk Day theme - taking a moment for your mental health - sounds simple but may be surprisingly difficult to integrate into our busy lives.

It may not always be easy, but taking care of yourself is worth it. Mental health is the foundation for how we think, feel, and perform every day. When we prioritize our mental well-being, we strengthen our ability to cope with challenges, build confidence, and enhance resiliency in our lives.

As we advance Canada's ambitious defence agenda together, efforts to strengthen the Defence Team's workforce are also being accelerated to ensure we are a resilient, agile organization well-positioned for success.

We recognize that the scope and the pace of changes happening can bring uncertainty and a sense of pressure that impacts everyone differently. As Defence Team Mental Health Champions, we want to reiterate our support to you and the importance of your well-being as key to delivering readiness and operational effectiveness for Canada.

There are many ways that you can pause and make mental health a priority. Here are some ideas that we encourage you to try today:

• Take a moment to relax and focus on your breathing.
• Incorporate physical exercise in your day to energize your body.
• Prioritize proper rest as part of your routine.
• Consider using a resource like the Employee Assistance Program, CAF Member Assistance Program, or one of the other mental health resources and services available to Defence Team members.

No matter what your moment looks like, every moment counts.

Together, let's continue making mental health our number one priority - today and all year long.

Stefanie Beck
Deputy Minister

Lieutenant-General Stephen Kelsey
Vice Chief of the Defence Staff

Wanda Boudreau
President of the Federal Government Dockyard Chargehands Association