New
24-Hour Veteran Support Helpline launched today
Veterans with mental health problems will get
targeted support from today with the launch of the new Combat
Stress Support Helpline, being delivered by Rethink Mental
Illness and funded by the Government.
Health Minister Simon Burns today unveiled a new 24-hour
freephone helpline number, 0800 138 1619, to help
veterans and their families access expert advice from people
trained and experienced in dealing with ex-Service men and women
and their often complex mental health needs.
The Government is giving £200,000 to fund the running of a one
year pilot of the helpline. This reinforces the Government’s
commitment to support the health needs of all veterans who have
given so much for this country. The helpline, announced in October
2010, was supported by Dr Andrew Murrison in his review into the
provision of mental health services for veterans. The Department
of Health has nominated the charities Combat Stress and Rethink
Mental Illness, both leaders in their respective fields of
supporting veterans and those with a mental illness, to run the
service together. With their combined expertise, the helpline will provide:
Round the clock support for veterans;Diverse ways to access
mental health support including advice via telephone, and later
this year text and email; Support to veterans’ families, whose
lives can be affected as a result of mental health problems, with
improved support to help them to access mental health services in
their local area; and Provide assistance in accessing further
advice on other social problems affecting veterans including
housing and employment advice.
Health Minister Simon Burns said:
“This funding will provide veterans and their families with a
service that will help and support them whenever and wherever they
need it. This is part of our commitment to deliver the best
possible health outcomes to veterans.
“We are working with Combat Stress to ensure that veterans and
their families can get free and impartial advice. The helpline,
delivered by Rethink Mental Illness, will provide mental health
support to help deal with issues that can seriously blight so much
of their lives.
“This is also a great example of how the expertise of charities
can be used to foster a stronger and healthier society.”
Andrew Robathan, the Minister for Defence
Personnel, Welfare, and Veterans, said:
"The mental health of our personnel and veterans is a
top priority of the Government and it is right that we do all we
can to support them and their families. The launch of this 24-hour
helpline, specifically designed to support veterans, is further
proof of the close working relationship between this country’s
charities and Government and allows those with the greatest
expertise to help those in need whatever the hour.”
Dr Andrew Murrison MP said:
“It is great to see that with the help of the Department of
Health, Combat Stress and Rethink this 24-hour helpline is being
launched today. I am confident that it will give ex-Service men
and women the support they not only need but deserve, given the
sacrifices they have made for this country."
Dr Walter Busuttil, Director of Medical Services,
Combat Stress
“Our aim is to ensure that each veteran receives the right care,
in the right place, at the right time. This helpline will be a key
part of our strategy to reach out to more veterans with wounded
minds and encourage them to seek help earlier.
“It will also take us a step further in supporting the all too
often forgotten families of ex-Service personnel, for whom mental
health problems can be a daily challenge. This 24-hour helpline
will be a vital first step in accessing much needed help.”
Paul Jenkins, Rethink Mental Illness Chief
Executive said:
“We are delighted that veterans and their families will now have
somewhere to turn day or night. Rethink Mental Illness is the
largest charity provider of mental health services and has more
than 40 years’ experience so we understand the vital importance of
providing hope and support to people at their most vulnerable.”
The launch of the new helpline is supported by a range of
psychological therapies that veterans experiencing mental health
problems will be able to request to help them improve their mental
health and wellbeing. The £200,000 forms part of an additional
£7.2 million investment made available in the
Government's ‘No health without mental health’ outcomes
strategy. Alongside the helpline, the Department of Health is also
working with the Royal College of General Practitioners to develop
training tools for GPs to better recognise the needs of veterans
and provide the best support.
The helpline will be delivered by Rethink Mental Illness using a
combination of permanent and volunteer staff to staff the phones
24 hours a day, and will have significant support from Combat
Stress. Through their campaign, “The Enemy Within Appeal” Combat
Stress has cemented their position across the country as the first
port of call for many ex-Service personnel suffering from a
variety of mental health issues. The appeal is directly tackling
the issue of stigma in mental health among veterans. This has been
highly successful in getting more ex-Service personnel to open up
about their experiences and seek treatment sooner than has
historically been the case.
Notes to Editors
The Combat Stress Support Helpline is available now by freephone
0800 138 1619. For more information please follow the below link:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/index.htm
http://www.combatstress.org.uk/
http://www.rethink.org/
The 24-hour service will be based in Nottingham.
Combat Stress cares for more than 4,600 veterans every year. To
make a donation to Combat Stress visit:
http://www.combatstress.org.uk/pages/donate_now.html
Rethink Mental Illness provides more than 300 services across
the country. The charity will use existing infrastructure and
contacts to develop a range of partnerships across England so
veterans, their families and carers have access to local services
and information.
For all follow up queries please call the Department of Health
Press Office on 020 7210 5221. Case studies are available on
request.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk