Combat Stress launching specialist training to improve support for veterans with complex mental health
Veterans’ mental health charity Combat Stress is launching two specialist training projects to improve support and care for veterans with complex mental health issues. It was made possible after the charity was awarded £400,000 by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (AFCFT).
Combat Stress has 3,000 training places available to professionals in the public, private and voluntary sectors who work with or support veterans with mental health issues. Partners and carers of veterans are also eligible for the training:
Suicide Prevention; Supporting High-Risk Veterans – this aims to reduce veteran deaths by suicide. The training focuses on increasing confidence via upskilling and sharing expertise among people caring for or working with veterans with mental health needs who are at high-risk of suicide.
Cultivating Hope & Trauma-Informed Services aims to reduce the length of time between veterans with complex mental health issues leaving the military and seeking help. The training focuses on veterans at risk of developing suicidal ideation, or around whom there are safeguarding concerns, and those in marginalised groups. This training will ensure anyone working with, or caring for, a veteran is best equipped to respond safely and effectively to those veterans’ needs and help them move veterans into the right services that maximise their chances of recovery.
Professor Catherine Kinane, Medical Director at Combat Stress, said: “Through these training programmes we will share our evidence-based, trauma-informed expertise of veterans’ mental health. Enhancing frontline support for veterans with complex mental health issues means we can strengthen people’s knowledge and understanding, ensuring veterans are given the help they need to live healthy and meaningful lives.”
To find out more about these projects, learn whether you may be eligible and apply for a fully funded place please click here.
We’re incredibly grateful to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust for their continued support.
