Polliann Maher

Lived Expertise Lead for Families, Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families

Polliann Maher is the Lived Expertise Lead for Families with the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families, she joined Atlas in November of 2021. She brings 10 years plus of peer support experience from her role as the Family Peer Support Coordinator with the OSISS program for Southwestern Ontario. Polliann took part in the Vocational Rehabilitation program through Veteran affairs in 2009 and went back to school to successfully complete her Community Service worker diploma. She has been part of the development and facilitation of the Psycho-education workshops for Family members in collaboration with the OSI Clinic at Parkwood Hospital. The research from these workshops was presented in a poster presentation at CIMVHR in 2018 in collaboration with the staff from the OSI clinic, and a podium presentation at CIMVHR in 2019. Polliann is passionate about promoting Mental Well-being within the Military and Veteran community and was part of the Military Family Resource Centre Board of Directors for 6 years. Polliann is the spouse of a retired veteran that was has been diagnosed with PTSD since 1999, mother to two adult sons and brings several years of lived experience as a caregiver, spouse, mother and peer support coordinator.