Family Support
Advice on how to emotionally support your partner after they've seen military service
Supporting an ex-military partner with their mental health.
When someone’s struggling with their mental health, it can affect everyone around them.
Husbands, wives and partners who care for veterans with a mental health problem play an important role in their recovery. But it can be hard work looking after someone with depression, anxiety, or who feels isolated or stressed.
We understand that supporting someone struggling with their mental health can leave the one that's caring needing support themselves.
Head Start, provided by Walking With The Wounded, also supports ex-military husbands, wives and partners to manage the stress and anxiety of caring for a veteran.
We can help if you:
- Have a partner who is being supported by the NHS through Op COURAGE
- Feel you need help or support yourself to deal with stress, depression or anxiety
- Think 1-2-1 sessions with an accredited therapist could help
Head Start mental health support for the husbands, wives and partners of ex-forces
Walking With The Wounded Head Start programme can provide six sessions of private psychoeducation for you with an accredited therapist. Psychoeducation is learning about mental health and emotional wellbeing, for example how and why people respond to different behaviours, situations and stimulus, including noises or landscapes that trigger a memory.
This service is free and we’ll always try and get you support that’s quick, close by and convenient for you.
How to contact Op COURAGE
We’re proud to be working in partnership with Op courage across England, making sure our veterans get the mental health support they deserve.
Op COURAGE works in six different areas. Contact your local area below:
NHS CONTACT LINES 24/7
NORTH OF ENGLAND0300 373 3332opcouragenorth@cntw.nhs.uk | LONDON020 3317 6818veteransservice@candi.nhs.uk |
THE MIDLANDS0300 323 0137mevs.mhm@nhs.net | SOUTH EAST ENGLAND0300 365 2000gateway@berkshire.nhs.uk |
THE EAST OF ENGLAND0300 034 9991mevs.mhm@nhs.net | SOUTHWEST ENGLAND0300 034 9986mevs.mhm@nhs.net |
SUCCESS STORIES

I’M IN A MUCH STRONGER PLACE
Our Support Care Coordination and Head Start mental health service gave veteran Martin and wife Kerry new hope for their family life together.

I JUST CAN’T THANK WWTW ENOUGH
Our Head Start mental health programme helped Shaun understand his emotions and reconnect with his family.

THANKS TO LYNSEY, I NOW HAVE A FUTURE
Our Employment Programme helped Kane into a career he loves and a life with a positive future.