Surgeon General Message: Contribute to a stronger force by participating in the CAF Health Survey

May 15, 2025 - Defence Stories

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces,

As Surgeon General, your health and well-being is my top priority. To improve the services we provide and better support your health, we are launching the 2025 Canadian Armed Forces Health Survey (CAFHS).

We need your help to make it a success!

Why your participation is important:

• Every voice counts: The CAFHS is conducted every five years to monitor and improve the health of our personnel.
• Shape the future: Your responses help us develop programs and policies that keep our military fit, healthy, and ready for action.
• Comprehensive insights: This is the only survey that covers physical and mental health, workplace risks, and healthcare interactions.
• What’s new in 2025: This will be the first CAFHS since the COVID-19 pandemic, helping us understand how your health has changed. New questions about your experiences with CAFHS will guide us in making our services more inclusive and accessible.

How you can help:

• Voluntary but vital: While participation is voluntary, your input is crucial for driving positive changes. We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback.
• Confidential and secure: Your personal health information will always remain confidential and protected under the Privacy Act. If you agree to allow researchers to link your survey responses to your health records for approved future research, your survey responses will remain confidential and protected.

Survey Details:

• When: The survey will be sent to a random group of CAF members in May and November.
• How: If selected, you will receive a secure link via your DWAN and personal email. The survey takes about one hour to complete.

Your impact: By sharing your experiences, you are not only identifying the challenges you are facing but are giving a voice to challenges others may also be facing. Your input helps us understand health trends and improve our programs and policies.

Thank you for contributing to a healthier and more supportive work environment for all who serve.

Sincerely,