File photo taken during the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Lethbridge cenotaph on November 11, 2022. The provincial government is providing funding towards research at the University of Alberta aimed at supporting veterans. (Photo: LNN)

By Christian Oldale

Province providing funding to support rehabilitation and therapy for veterans

Apr 21, 2023 | 11:55 AM

EDMONTON, AB – The Alberta government has committed to supporting rehabilitation and therapy for veterans through research at the University of Alberta (U of A).

The province is providing $750,000 per year for the next five years to support the Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium (HiMARC) program at the U of A.

The HiMARC program aims to support military members, veterans, public safety personnel and others who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education said, “There is no higher calling for a nation or government than to stand by those who have been willing to lay down their lives to defend it.”

Nicholaides added, “Too often, Canada’s soldiers leave their service with mental scars. World-class research hosted by the University of Alberta and the work of HiMARC will help improve mental health outcomes for veterans and military personnel, and we’re proud to step up and support it.”

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HiMARC’s therapy uses a process called 3MDR. Clients physically walk on a treadmill where they are immersed into a virtual reality environment with a therapist by their side, processing traumatic events into memories. According to a news release from the province, initial randomized trials have shown 3MDR to be clinically effective in treating PTSD, even for some patients who have been identified as having treatment-resistant PTSD.

More about HiMARC is available at the U of A website.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now