Special Operations Sentinel Plus: Innovative peer support at CANSOFCOM

January 23, 2023 - Defence Stories

The importance of peer support in a work setting cannot be overemphasized, especially in a military environment. Peer-support programs are a powerful way for Defence Team members to care and support one another – providing empathy, encouragement, and hope that recovery is possible. The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM)’s Special Operations Sentinel Plus (SOS+) program provides mental-health training for both military members and public servants to help them learn how to help their friends, family, and co-workers.

The SOS+ program builds upon the Canadian Armed Forces Sentinel Program, a peer-support network of trained and supervised volunteer members of all ranks that was established in 2007 by the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service. While the original Sentinel Program offers half-day to full-day training, with ongoing development workshops, SOS+ is an intensive three-day peer-training course that balances theory, practical information, role-playing, and self-care. The program focuses on common psycho-social and mental-health challenges faced by CANSOFCOM team members – incorporating demonstrations, role playing, self-care exercises, and group discussions.

“The practical training is robust,” said Major Ian Filion, “with more than six hours of hands-on training for each graduate. Every person [in the course] is given the opportunity to play the role of peer supporter, support recipient, and observer during each exercise – all under the supervision of a professional.”

In 2020, Filion and Padre (Major) Victor Morris were asked by command leadership to develop an advanced peer-support capability. In 2021, three pilot courses were held, which provided valuable feedback that was used to improve the training; in 2022, five more sessions were held. Both the course development and training are based on collaboration with mental-health professionals, Military Family Services counsellors, and a representative from Operational Stress Injury Social Support. The SOS+ training is part of CANSOFCOM’s Optimizing Force and Family (OPF2) program, which supports members and their families across the physical, psychological, spiritual, and family domains.

“The power of peers is that they are able to observe problems and help immediately,” said Morris. “We may not hear of problems until they have already developed. While stigma about mental-health issues still exists, this has improved markedly over the years. People are more willing to reach out and to be helped.” He added that self-care is a vital component of the SOS+ training. “We recognize that helping [others] can be draining,” he said. “You have to fill up your own cup before being able to help others.”