Specialist care and support for Service-leavers, Reservists, Veterans and their families.
The first call for help takes courage
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or wellbeing, expert help is available from Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.
If you’re due to leave the Armed Forces, just left the Armed Forces or left many years ago, Op COURAGE is here to help.
You will be able to speak to people who:
- understand the Armed Forces and military life
- are either from the Armed Forces community or highly experienced in working with Serving personnel, Reservists, Veterans and their families
- will work with you to make sure you get the right type of specialist care, support, and treatment.
The service can be contacted directly by yourself or you can ask your GP, a charity or someone else, such as a family member or friend, to do this on your behalf.
What will happen when you contact Op COURAGE
To make sure you get the right care and support, you will first have an assessment by someone who understands the specific needs of the Armed Forces community.
The service offers a range of treatment, which includes:
- working with Defence Medical Services to make sure you get mental health care and support as you transition from the military to civilian life
- recognising the early signs of mental health problems and providing care and treatment for this
- therapeutic treatment for more advanced mental health conditions and psychological trauma
- intensive emergency care and treatment if you’re in a crisis
- helping you to access other NHS services if needed, such as ‘Improving access to psychological therapies’ (IAPT) and eating disorder services
- working with charities and local organisations to support you with your wider health and wellbeing needs, such as housing, relationships, finances, employment, drug and alcohol misuse and social support.
Support for your family
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health and wellbeing difficulties, the rest of the family can be affected. The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service can help your family get care and support from local services. With your permission, they can also be involved in your care plan.
For more information, visit the NHS website at www.nhs.uk/opcourage
Case study
Veteran, Anthony Muckell, describes his own journey to getting help.
“I was a Royal Marine and Served in the Gulf on board RFA Argus”.
“At my lowest point I attempted suicide twice, spent time in a psychiatric hospital and then prison. This led to me losing my job and homelessness.
I was unable to explain what was wrong with me which meant that I didn’t get the help I needed. Not having the care I needed and not knowing where to find it meant I gave up on life.
Any Veterans, or families of Veterans, that need help should make Op COURAGE their first port of call. The people that work there really do understand our needs and the help we need. If you know a Veteran in need then please help them make contact with their local Op COURAGE NHS Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.
It will make a massive difference to the care that you need with the support of Veterans that have been through the service as well.”
Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service is the new overarching name for the Veterans’ Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS), Veterans’ Mental Health Complex Treatment Service (CTS) and Veterans’ Mental Health High Intensity Service (HIS). This new name was developed by the Armed Forces community to make it easier for those leaving the military and Veterans to find help. The services themselves have not changed.
