Children in military families have unique health care needs

OTTAWA – Ahead of Remembrance Day, the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) released a position statement recommending tailored treatment and resources to meet the needs of the 64,000 children and youth who have a parent in the Canadian armed forces.

“Military families experience a number of life stressors, such as frequent moving, long periods of separation within the family, being away from extended family support systems, and deployments to high-risk areas of the world,” explains Dr. Anne Rowan-Legg, author of the new CPS statement. “We need to understand and meet the unique concerns around these children and their families.”

The new CPS statement identifies specific areas of concern for this population, including mental health and behaviour, child maltreatment, at-home parent well-being, and problems with access and continuity of care.

The CPS wants both the federal and provincial governments to increase access to medical and mental health services for children with military parents.

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About the Canadian Paediatric Society

The Canadian Paediatric Society is a national advocacy association that promotes the health needs of children and youth. Founded in 1922, the CPS represents more than 3,300 paediatricians, paediatric subspecialists and other child health professionals across Canada.