Defence Committee: Armed Forces and Veterans Mental Health Inquiry. Part Two. The Provision of Care

Abstract

Executive Summary

* Effective Military Mental Health care requires practitioners with extensive knowledge of service provision and structures, and who have the correct clinical competencies that are underpinned by academic qualification/s and experience.

* Veterans are a heterogeneous group, differing by factors such as age, gender and length of service. These factors are extremely important during transition, and initiatives to support ex-Service personnel and their families are hindered through a lack of understanding of the veteran community.

* NHS Mental Health care provision is extensive and comprehensive, although is areas such as Northern Ireland, it is Combat Stress that provide bespoke veteran care options, funded through charitable contributions.

* Many veterans are unaware of their entitlement to priority medical services, or the wider provisions available to them.

* Veterans are unwilling to disclose problems associated with their former military life, often believing that civilians, including healthcare professionals, do not appreciate military culture and “cannot understand” their experiences.

* Receiving quick, appropriate support requires GPs and other healthcare professionals having sufficient awareness of the NHS and veteran specific services, and on the patients MH condition being correctly identified.

* Stressors identified during the transition period are just as likely to negatively impact on the spouse and family.

* There is an assumption that the small local veteran charities may be doing harm, although there is limited evidence to substantiate this view, and there is a requirement to understand why some veterans prefer this option