
Grenadier Walk of Oman. Day 11 - NHS and Mental Health support
The NHS is the principal partner of Walking With The Wounded and our team works closely with NHS teams across the country to support with the delivery of mental health, employment and care coordination programmes for those who served and their family members.
The NHS has recently launched a new
veteran-focused mental health service called Op COURAGE: The Veterans
Mental Health and Wellbeing Service. Op Courage is designed to help
personnel who are planning on leaving the military, reservists, veterans, and
their families.
The new pathway was announced by Sir Simon Stevens, Chief
Executive of NHS England and NHS Improvement, Johnny Mercer, Minister for
Defence People and Veterans and Kate Davies CBE, Director of Health and
Justice, Armed Forces and Sexual Assault Services Commissioning and officially
launched the new NHS Veterans’ Mental Health High-Intensity Service (HIS), at
the Veterans’ Mental Health Conference organised by Kings College London Centre
for Military Health Research.
At Walking With The Wounded, we also provide
mental health support for those who have served. Our mental health programme,
Head Start, provides 1-2-1 therapy for ex-service personnel with mild to
moderately severe mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.
Several members of The Grenadier Walk
of Oman team have received support from Walking With The Wounded, either
through our mental health programme or our employment programme and they signed
up to the expedition to give something back to the Charity.
Dave Adams received support from our
mental health team. He said, My main reason for joining the Walk of Oman is the good that
WWTW does for the Forces community in both mental and physical health. I myself
have benefitted directly and anything I can do to further aid the cause of
WWTW, I will. It will also provide an opportunity to broaden the awareness of
the ongoing problem with PTSD in the veteran and serving community – hopefully
to drive change in the level of support available to the military community
following, or prior to, discharge from the Armed Forces.”
Sean Gane received support from our employment and mental
health team, he added, “I have worked alongside WWTW for years, signposting people
to the charity on our courses as well as the employment side of things. I
recently received support from WWTW when my role at my previous employer was
made redundant. I contacted Tony, an Employment Advisor after working
with him for a number of years, he has supported me and has been working on
roles and courses for me.”
Follow the team as they
start the final leg of The Grenadier Walk of Oman www.walkofoman.co.uk