The NHS is rolling out an expanded mental health support service for Armed Forces
As a result, NHS England has 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.
The survey was carried out between April-May 2022 and received 3,095 responses.
Former Royal Marine, Invictus Games medallist and TV presenter JJ Chalmers, said: “If you’ve served in the Armed Forces, you’re forever part of this community of people who have a shared history, but even with people around you, it can be so difficult to ask for help and support when you need it most.
“Recognising when you need to reach out is the first hurdle and fellow veterans can help so much with this, as they’ve been through it too.
“The wonderful thing about Op COURAGE, is that it has been developed by veterans, for veterans – the trained NHS professionals you’ll speak to are from the Armed Forces or have experience of working with the community.
“They really get where you’ve come from.
“I remember how hard it was adjusting to life after the military, getting to grips with civvy street after everything I went through in Afghanistan.
“Having a service like the Op COURAGE to support you is invaluable.”
