22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base North Bay hosted the 8th annual Mental Health Expo on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
The event featured guest speaker Arthur Henry, a 36-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Air Force, registered psychotherapist and a Canadian Certified Counsellor.
Henry presented practical tools for bouncing back from adversity.
In addition, Colonel Joe Oldford, 22 Wing Commander, and Chief Warrant Officer Didier Pignatel, Wing Chief Warrant Officer, spoke about the importance of resiliency and being willing to ask for help.
Then, attendees were invited to visit the expo, made up of 42 booths along with information from local civilian and military mental health service providers.
"The mental well being of our entire 22 Wing Defence Team remains paramount, which is why we must ensure everyone is aware of the comprehensive mental health resources available both on-wing and throughout North Bay," stated Colonel Joe Oldford, 22 Wing and Canadian Air Defence Sector Commander.
"We're especially grateful to Arthur Henry, a 36-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Air Force, for sharing insights from his decades of service and highlighting how different therapeutic approaches can support both mental and physical wellness. As someone who has seen the evolution of mental health support in the RCAF firsthand, his perspective reinforces that by deepening our collective understanding of mental health, we strengthen not just individuals, but our entire Defence Team. A mentally resilient force is a combat-effective force – when we take care of our people's well being, we enhance our operational readiness and our ability to defend Canada," he continued.
"We understand that mental health challenges can affect anyone, and when our members are struggling, it impacts their ability to perform at their best. This is why it's crucial that we ensure every member of 22 Wing and their families know exactly what mental health support is available to them, both through our on-wing services and within the North Bay community."