There are believed to be as many as five
million service veterans in the UK, but the nature and extent of
their mental health needs are unknown.
There is, however, a strong feeling that NHS
mental health services do not cater for veterans’ needs, and that
there is widespread ignorance of armed services’ mental health
issues, as well as the role and capabilities of Combat Stress - a
voluntary sector organisation dealing with veterans’ mental
health.
Following an independent review of veterans’
mental health provision, the UK Veterans Agency has launched a
two-year pilot project to identify and address the mental health
needs of veterans in six centres across the country.
A Veterans’ Mental Health Therapist has been
funded in each site to diagnose and treat, where appropriate, those
with mental health problems. The therapists will also advise
veterans already in contact with NHS mental health services to
enable them to receive more timely and effective treatment.
Combat Stress reports a 13-year time lag
between people leaving the armed services with a mental health
problem and their seeking help, either with the organisation or
with NHS mental health services.
South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare
NHS Foundation Trust is the lead pilot centre for the new project,
and began seeing patients in September 2007. The project has a
strong educational component, bringing together the NHS, military
mental health professionals, and Combat Stress.
The pilot will be evaluated after two years
and, if positive health outcomes are shown, the project will be
rolled out nationally.
For further information, please contact Liz Fox or Deborah
Hart in the Communications Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127
References:
Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Annual Meeting, Imperial College London 1 - 4 July 2008