Helping Veterans Battling PTSD & Addiction | University of Saskatchewan

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    • Meet the team
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    • Fact Sheets
    • Presentations
    • Webinars
    • Videos
    • Service provider toolkit
  • Resources
    • Defining a service dog
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    • Others' publications
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leaders in PTSD Service Dog Research

leaders in PTSD Service Dog Research leaders in PTSD Service Dog Research leaders in PTSD Service Dog Research

Connecting for veteran wellness toolkit

Our toolkit for Service Dog Organizations informs service dog trainers about recovery from substance use health problems and the important role of peer support and connection for the wellness of their Veteran dog handlers diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  

The toolkit includes:

  • an online certificate course made up of nine modules, a completion certificate, and should take between two to three hours to complete, and 
  • access to substance use recovery and peer support resources. 

This project initiated in 2016  as a research partnership between the University of Saskatchewan and a service dog organization in Canada. 

ACCESS THE TOOLKIT

Click here

PROJECT SUMMARY | Résumé du projet

A PAWSitive Support Project for Veterans with PTSD and Substance Use Health Concerns


 The goal of this patient-oriented project is to inform Canadian service dog organizations working with veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) about recovery from problematic substance use for inclusion in their training programs. The information shared is based on the latest evidence and specific attention is paid to the role of distance peer support in recovery. Our multidisciplinary team recognizes that recovery is variously defined and that common elements include seeking a life worth living, optimism that recovery is possible, recognition that it is a process, and that there is always hope. Our team identifies problematic substance use as involving veterans’ disconnection from other humans, as well as animals and the environment. Combining these areas is an innovative and inclusive approach to recovery. In a stepped process over three years, we worked alongside a dozen service dog programs working with veterans medically diagnosed with PTSD, to understand if and how substance use and peer support is incorporated into their programs. We developed (theory focused) and applied (practice focused) an evidence-informed substance use recovery toolkit with these service dog organizations and mentored its implementation. An external contractor to the project,  Proactive Information Services Inc., evaluated the outcomes.  

 

Un projet de soutien éPATTant pour les anciens combattants souffrant du syndrome de stress post-traumatique et les questions de santé concernant la consommation de substances


 Le but de ce projet axé sur le patient est d’informer les organismes canadiens de chiens d’assistance, qui travaillent avec des anciens combattants diagnostiqués du syndrome de stress post-traumatique (SSPT), sur le rétablissement d'une consommation problématique de substances pour les inclure dans leurs programmes de formation. Les informations partagées sont basées sur les dernières données probantes et une attention particulière est accordée au rôle du soutien à distance par des pairs en voie de rétablissement. Notre équipe multidisciplinaire reconnaît qu’il existe plusieurs définitions du rétablissement et que les éléments communs comprennent la recherche d’une vie digne d’être vécue, l’optimisme que le rétablissement est possible, la reconnaissance que c’est un processus et qu’il y a toujours de l’espoir. Notre équipe identifie la consommation problématique de substances comme une déconnexion des anciens combattants des autres humains, ainsi que des animaux et de l’environnement. La combinaison de ces domaines constitue une approche novatrice et inclusive pour le rétablissement. Dans le cadre d’un processus échelonné sur trois ans, nous collaborerons avec plus d’une douzaine de programmes de chiens d’assistance œuvrant auprès des anciens combattants diagnostiqués de SSPT par un médecin afin de comprendre si la toxicomanie et le soutien des pairs sont intégrés dans leurs programmes et de quelle façon. Nous sommes en train d’élaborer (en nous basant sur la théorie) et d’appliquer (en nous basant sur la pratique) une trousse de rétablissement de la consommation de substances fondée sur des preuves avec ces organismes de chiens d’assistance et nous encadrerons sa mise en œuvre.  Proactive Information Services Inc., un prestataire de services externe, est   

en train d’évaluer les résultats.

EXTERNAL EVALUATION FROM pROACTIVE iNFORMATION sERVICES iNC.

 "In summary, it is concluded that the project exceeded its target and achieved its immediate outcomes”.

Read the evaluation report on our project

Download PDF

learn about us

2021 mid-project achievement video

Vidéo de nos réalisations en milieu de projet en 2021 

Traduction française disponible de la vidéo   

2019 Project launch video

Vidéo du lancement du projet en 2019 

Traduction française disponible de la vidéo  

Working during the pandemic

During the pandemic, our Service Dog project partnered with the PAWS Your Stress therapy dog program to grow our understanding of transitioning services online during the COVID-19 pandemic.   


To celebrate this growth, we shared 2,000 wildflower seed papers across the country. Seed paper is a special eco-paper made from recycled products. 


French translation available

Traduction française disponible de la vidéo  

highlights OF PROJECT OUTPUTS

Download PDF

contact us

OUR TEAM WORKed WITH SERVICE DOG ORGANIZATIONS across CANADA.

Project Lead                                            Project Manager

Colleen Anne Dell, PhD                        Maryellen Gibson, MPH

1-306-966-5912                                        1-306-966-6917


This project has been approved by the University of Saskatchewan Animal and Human Research Ethics Boards. Ethics number 20170114 & 17-371.


Service Dog Organization participation in this project does not imply endorsement or non-endorsement of their services by the project or its members. 

Our Health Canada, Substance Use and Addictions Program, funded project has been learning and sharing how service dogs can help Veterans living with PTSD recover from problematic substance use with the assistance of distance peer support.

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PAWSitive canine connections

The Connecting for Veteran Wellness course is offered by the Office of the Centennial Enhancement Chair in One Health & Wellness, led by Dr. Colleen Anne Dell at the University of Saskatchewan. Learn about other PAWSitive Canine Connection initiatives her team is involved in!

Visit Dr. Dell's Website

 Copyright © 2021 Service Dog Research - All Rights Reserved  |  Droit d’auteur @2021 Service Dog Research – Tous droits réservés

Funded by Health Canada, Substance Use and Addictions Program  |  Financé par Santé Canada, Programme sur l’usage de substances et les addictions
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada  |  Les opinions exprimées ici ne représentent pas nécessairement les opinions de Santé Canada


Visit Dr. Colleen Dell's website for more PAWSitive Canine Connection initiatives |   Visitez le site Web du Dr Colleen Dell pour plus d'initiatives PAWSitive Canine Connection 

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