According to leading mental health organisations, around one in four of us will experience some form of mental health problem at least once during our lives. A small but significant number of veterans leave the Armed Forces with psychological wounds. These can lead to depression, phobias, anxiety, relationship problems and, in some cases, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
If you are still serving in the Regiment and find yourself troubled by mental health issues you should report to your Medical Officer as soon as possible. The earlier that your problems are identified and treated, the less likely they will be to continue to impact on your life. Rest assured, your treatment will be confidential, and you certainly won’t be the only person in your unit who has needed help, even if it feels that way.
Veterans First Point is a one-stop shop for Veterans and their families. It was developed by Veterans for Veterans and is staffed by an alliance of clinicians and Veterans. The service they provide is free at the point of access and provided as part of the NHS. Unfortunately not all areas of Scotland are able to offer this service, for more details click here.
Together All (formally the Big White Wall) is a forum where you can access help from the trained members of staff and interact with many others who are going through the same feelings and problems as you. For more information click here.
MIND is a leading national Mental Health charity. Its aims are to provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. For more information visit their website here.
Combat Stress is the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health. For over a century, they’ve helped former servicemen and women with mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression. For more details of what they can offer click here.
Poppyscotland offers several services, including dealing with mental health issues. For more on what’s on offer click here.
SAMH is Scotland’s national mental health charity. They aid adults and young people providing mental health social care support, services in primary care, schools and further education among others. For more information click here.
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