It can be difficult to know where to turn for help when you transition back to civilian life. A range of organisations and charities are there to give you the tools to get you and your family back on-track.
PTSD RESOLUTION
Leaving the Armed Forces can be difficult even if it wasn’t through sickness or injury. It’s a big transition. PTSD Resolution helps veterans who struggle to reintegrate into civilian life. Counselling is provided for anyone with post-traumatic stress disorder, combat related stress and transitional distress, aimed to make returning to normal life easier. Besides providing counselling for ex-military personnel on an individual basis, PTSD Resolution also offers therapy to family members. Find out more at www.ptsdresolution.org
WALKING WITH THE WOUNDED, HEAD START
Offering one-to-one therapy, the programme helps ex-service personnel with mild to moderate mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, PTSD and adjustment disorder, who face long waits for treatment through the NHS. Private therapy sessions with local therapists are available face-to-face or via the internet. Head Start is for ex-military, but mental health problems don’t have to relate to your time in the military in order to access therapy. You need to be referred to the programme, but you will be allocated a therapist within 10 working days. Find out more at www.wwtw.org.uk
VETERANS AND RESERVES MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMME
Providing assistance for ex-Armed Forces personnel who developed mental health problems during their service, the programme is available to veterans and reservists. VRMHP cuts through red tape and provides a full psychiatric assessment completed by a consultant psychiatrist, and sends an assessment report to your GP and local mental health service in the form of a referral. This assessment report provides advice on further treatment and care. Find out more by calling 0800 032 6258 or emailing [email protected]
WOMEN’S ROYAL NAVAL SERVICE BENEVOLENT TRUST
The charity helps women who have served in the Navy and are struggling with financial problems. Grants can be issued in order to make the transition back in to civilian life as smooth as possible, on a one-off basis for debts, education, funeral expenses, household goods or repairs, medical aids, travel expenses and rent or deposits. Regular charitable payments can also be applied for to help cover day-to-day expenses, the cost of care, living overseas or as a weekly support supplement for those struggling to find employment. Find out more at www.wrnsbt.org.uk
COMBAT STRESS
Stress is one of the most common mental health problems. Combat Stress provides treatment programmes and therapies to exmilitary personnel with mental health problems. Six-week residential programmes are available for people who require trauma-focused therapy. It also runs stabilisation programmes at various treatment centres to equip you with the skills to deal with symptoms in day-to-day life. Anxiety management, anger management, art therapy and well-being activities are also provided along with a 24-hour helpline for veterans, people still serving and the affected families. Contact the Combat Stress 24-hour helpline on 0800 138 1619. Find out more at www.combatstress.org.uk
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