Struggling with your mental health? Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service is here for you.

Off By Ed Hanna

With the current conflict in Ukraine featuring across news and social media on a daily basis, the distressing images and footage are sadly only too familiar for many veterans. This in turn can trigger painful memories and unwanted symptoms, which can be hard to cope with.

If you are struggling at this time, the NHS in England is encouraging veterans to get in touch with Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service. To get help, you can contact the service to make an appointment or you can ask your GP, a charity or someone else, such as a family member or friend, to do this. The service offers a range of treatment and will arrange for you to have an assessment to make sure your specific mental health and wellbeing needs are supported.

Dr Dan Barnard, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, from the Midlands Op COURAGE services, said, “If you’re feeling impacted by events in Ukraine or generally finding it difficult to cope, Op COURAGE is here to help. I urge any veteran who is experiencing mental health problems to get in contact with us. It doesn’t matter how long ago you left the military, how long you served for or whether or not you were in combat, we are here for you.

“Experiencing mental health problems can be frightening and lonely and the thought of talking about what you’re going through can be daunting. Clinicians and staff at Op COURAGE understand this and we will work with you to ensure you get the right care and treatment. Between us, we’ve either served in the Armed Forces or have extensive training and knowledge of military life – no matter which, we want to help.”

Scott, who served in the Navy on submarine operations in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Bosnia, is getting help from Op COURAGE and told us, “I served in submarine operations around the world and was involved in lots of traumatic events and sticky situations. Whilst this didn’t affect me at the time, this changed when I left the military and I didn’t sleep a single night for ten years. I tried to cope on my own and didn’t speak to anyone about this. I buried my head in the sand and hoped one day it would go away, but it didn’t. After ten years I couldn’t cope anymore and with the help of my wife, I contacted Op COURAGE.

“I’ve been with the service for two years and it has massively helped. I think I will always have issues, but I feel a lot better in myself and am confident I can live a relatively normal life and move forward. I wish I’d got help years ago, but was frightened people would think I was weak and not a man. It took me a while to call Op COURAGE – it was a really big step for me and not easy, but the treatment I’ve received has been marvellous and my psychologist has been so supportive. If you’ve got any issues with your mental health, get help sooner rather than later. Don’t wait ten years like me, or even ten weeks – get in contact with Op COURAGE now.”

Visit: www.nhs.uk/opcourage for more information and details of your nearest service.

Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service is the new 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). The new name has been developed following feedback from veterans and their families to make it easier for those leaving the military and veterans to find help.

For more information and for contact details, visit www.nhs.uk/opcourage