Combat Stress launches five-year mental health strategy
Combat Stress has launched a new five-year strategy setting out its priorities for supporting the mental health of veterans and the wider Armed Forces community.
The strategy focuses on four areas: resilience, earlier diagnosis and intervention, specialist treatment, and long-term management of mental health needs.
Under its resilience work, Combat Stress plans to develop the evidence base around prevention and resilience training for serving personnel and reservists, working with Defence and employers.
The strategy also sets out plans to improve awareness of PTSD, simplify access to assessment and support, and help veterans seek help earlier. Combat Stress says it will continue to provide specialist treatment for military-related PTSD and complex PTSD while working with other organisations where wider support is required.
Long-term support is also included within the five-year plan, with online self-help resources and partnership working intended to support veterans who continue to manage their mental health after treatment.
Combat Stress says the strategy was developed with sector partners and members of the Armed Forces community and reflects changes in veterans’ needs, mental health services and the wider Defence environment.
