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NHS expands mental health support for veterans with more than half saying it’s hard to speak up
The NHS is rolling out an expanded mental health support service for Armed Forces veterans, as a survey found that more than half find it difficult to speak up about mental health issues.
The health service has launched a new campaign to highlight its Op COURAGE service, which now includes enhanced specialist support for addictions.
From April to November 2023, more than 4,500 referrals were made to the NHS service which provides specialist care, support and treatment to former Armed Forces personnel, reservists, and service leavers with mental health and wellbeing issues.
More than 30,000 referrals have been made to the veterans’ mental health and wellbeing ‘lifeline’ service since it was first launched by the NHS in 2017.
There are about 2.4 million veterans living in the UK.
A new survey of over 3,000 veterans and serving personal, carried out by NHS England, found that the majority (around 60 percent), of those who took part, said they found it difficult to ask for help for mental health issues.
For those who sought help from Op COURAGE, self-referral was the top method (around 44 percent).
More than half of respondents (52 percent) said they currently had, or had previously had, a mental health problem and 54 percent said they had a physical health problem now or had previously had one.
As a result, NHS England redesigned the service, with a focus on boosting self-referrals, as well as the addition of enhanced addiction support, and today kicked off an awareness campaign highlighting the service which supports veterans, reservists, and service leavers.
Support for veterans, reservists, and service leavers through OP COURAGE is provided by trained professionals from the Armed Forces community or with extensive experience of working with the military.
Gem Davies, Chief People Officer at the Tavistock and Portman said: “We’re proud to support this important work to provide support to our veterans community. As a Veterans Aware Trust, with an Employer Recognition Scheme Bronze Award, we work with OpCourage and other providers to make sure no veteran goes without support if they’re struggling when they return to civilian life.”
Dr Rachel James, Clinical Director at the Trust said:
“In Camden, our local armed forces community has also told us that asking for help isn’t always easy to do. We want to remind those who have served or are currently reservists, and their families, that our clinical services are here to help, and that we are committed to working together to ensure the best NHS care for veterans and their families, and in supporting the armed forces as an employer. In addition, the Trust has a unique potential to additionally support the armed forces community in training and development opportunities through our Directorate of Education and Training.”
Dr Jonathan Leach OBE, NHS England Associate Medical Director for Armed Forces and Veterans Health, said: “The NHS Op COURAGE service is unique – our staff are not only highly trained clinical professionals, but they are also either ex-military or know the military culture first-hand. This sets them up to provide a non-judgemental service and build trust with those seeking help.
“Our research has found that veterans can often struggle to know when to ask for help, but by providing them with professionals who have a deeper understanding of what they are going through, we are able to share success stories, such as Denis and Debbie.”
What veterans say
Army veteran Denis Mutisya, 36, from Gloucester, who served in the 19th Regiment Royal Artillery, said: “I connected with Op COURAGE when I was discharged from the Royal Artillery due to both physical and mental health issues. That one call – it changed my life.
“One of the first things the service told me was that I needed to put my health first and that they’d support me and be there alongside me the whole time. Up to that point, I thought I’d reached the end, but they helped me realise it was just the beginning.”
Debbie Cooper, 55, from Gloucester, who served in the Royal Air Force, said: “When I left the service, I had a profession that easily transferred to the civilian world, and it wasn’t until I was in my late 40s that I really started to struggle in my job, both physically and mentally, and I had to medically retire. Losing a role I’d worked hard to build up to left a big hole in my life – I felt like I’d failed and I was scared about how I’d support my family.
“I was aware I needed help, and I tried, but it wasn’t easy. Everywhere I turned, no one really understood. Ultimately, I found myself in hospital after trying to end my life – I had lost all hope.
“I was searching for support online and came across Op COURAGE – it was the first glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. Talking to them was a breath of fresh air – I felt like someone was finally listening and responding in a way that was helpful – they got where I was coming from and understood my experiences, it finally felt like someone cared.
“They gave me hope recovery was possible and liaised with my local mental health team on my behalf, which was really important to me.”
Visit Op COURAGE for more information about the service.