Funding, News and Announcements

The Life After Service Survey (LASS) is now available for use by researchers in the ARDC. This is a national longitudinal survey that collects information on the transition from military to civilian life, general health and well-being, chronic conditions, labour force participation and other related information. An important goal of the survey is to understand the transition period from military to civilian life and health outcomes in Canadian Veterans including former Reservists.

The survey population for LASS consists of Regular Forces released from the Canadian Armed Forces during the years 1998-2012 and Reservists released from 2003-2012, and were no longer enlisted. Persons in the survey population were to be living in the ten provinces of Canada and were not living in long-term care facilities. Ultimately, these are the people who are eligible to be contacted and offered Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) services.

LASS is one component of multiple Veterans studies, with the following objectives:

• Measure the health outcomes of released Reserve Force personnel after transition to civilian life;
• Examine how health outcomes compare between released Reserve and Regular Force personnel;
• Examine how health outcomes change over time;
• Examine program reach, unmet needs not addressed by current programs, and program effectiveness.

LASS determinants of health include income, social support, education, employment, personal health practices, and access to health services.

For more information on The Life After Service Survey:
http://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&SDDS=5172

For more information on the ARDC and application procedures:
http://atlanticresearchdatacentre.dal.ca/
ardc@dal.ca
902-494-1545