Suffolk Military Covenant: Mental Wellbeing

Samaritans: Struggling with your thoughts and wellbeing? Call Samaritans’: free helpline number (116 123) day or night, 365 days a year. Armed Forces engagement: 100% confidential. Samaritans are now recording data around callers who are from the Armed Forces Community (including serving personnel, veterans and family members), although the anonymity and details of calls will remain confidential as always. This data can be used to identify trends and issues that are prevalent within the community to help Samaritans and their partners improve the support they provide.

Op Courage (NHS): The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service. Specialist care and support for Service leavers, reservists, veterans and their families. An explanation of the Op Courage service can be found on the NHS website. Referral forms are available by emailing: mevs@mhm.org.uk or Telephone: 0300 323 0137.

Op RESTORE the Veterans Health & Wellbeing Service – the new name for the Veterans Trauma Network (VTN).

Op RESTORE provides care and treatment to those with a Service-attributable physical health condition. Located in 13 major trauma centres (Plymouth, Oxford, London (three centres), Birmingham, Nottingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Cambridge, Brighton and Middlesbrough), with links to four NHS trusts, the network works closely with Defence Medical Services, national centres of clinical expertise, Op COURAGE and military charities, to provide holistic care. Access to Op RESTORE requires a GP referral by emailing imperial.oprestore@nhs.net.

The Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) delivers wellbeing support services. Referral is often linked to Doctor's surgeries and allied agencies but self-referral too. NSFT has recently announced their Veterans wellbeing pathway which will link to Op Courage and veterans focused service partners. The service announcement can be found on the NSFT website.

The Warrior Programme aims to help members of the armed forces community transition and settle into civilian life. It’s FREE.

Each programme is an intensive training course which helps people develop methods of resilience and manage emotions, deal with everyday life as well as help with focus and achievement. Delivered online over 5 days or face-to-face residential over 3-days), the course is followed by 12 months of ongoing help, which includes regular refresher session and online support.

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Visit the Warrior Programme website

Togetherall is a safe, anonymous, and non-judgmental space where people can share their feelings and experiences, get advice and understanding, and talk to trained professionals if they need it.

Some of the key benefits of Togetherall:

• 24/7 access – a safe place to talk at any time of the day or night
• A supportive online community – moderated by professionals at all times
• Anonymity and safety for users
• An extensive library of articles and resources

Online courses and self-help tools, such as managing depression and improving sleep alongside our ‘managing PTSD’ course, which has been specifically designed to support the Armed Forces

FREE to all members of the UK Armed Forces (regulars and reservists) and veterans.

UK Armed Forces Community - Register today

Visit the Togetherall website

Combat Stress is a UK-wide military welfare charity specialising in Veterans’ Mental Health and Wellbeing. If you need our help, do call our free 24-hour Helpline for Veterans, Service personnel, and their families: 0800 138 1619.

Head Start provides 1-2-1 private therapy for ex-service personnel with mild to moderately severe mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and adjustment disorder. Therapy is provided via face-to-face and digital sessions. Evidence-based talking therapies including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) are delivered by accredited private therapists within the ex-service personnel’s local community. Visit the Walking with the Wounded Head - Start webpage.

PTSD Resolution is a national charity which delivers counselling and psychotherapy to Veterans, Reservists, and families, struggling with emotional and behavioural problems. Delivery is through our network of 200 therapists UK-wide. Treatment is free, immediately available, local, private, brief, and demonstrably effective. No referral is needed – simply ring 0845 021 7873 or email contact@ptsdresolution.org to start the process. Further information, including testimonials, can be found at the PTSD resolution website.

Help for Heroes - Hidden Wounds psychological support programme supports veterans and their families who are suffering from the early symptoms of potentially more serious mental injuries. The programme will enhance treatment already available and will help identify and treat symptoms such as stress, depression and anxiety before they develop into more serious mental health conditions. Visit the Help for Heroes wellbeing services webpage.

Suffolk Mind is an independent Charity committed to improving the mental health and wellbeing of people in Suffolk. Our wide range of services are easy to access and can help address specific issues, including anxiety and anger management, and we also offer more general courses and 1-2-1 support, that can help improve or maintain emotional wellbeing. For further information visit our website www.suffolkmind.org.uk or call us on 0300 111 6000.

Op NOVA helps veterans who are in contact with the justice system by providing emotional and practical support, enabling veterans to access specialist support in areas such as health, housing and employment. The support is available pre and post custody across all of England.

The service supports veterans who have self-referred or been referred by specialist police teams or other statutory organisations.  Op NOVA caseworkers are Armed Forces Aware and undertake a needs assessment to establish what support is required by the individual, followed by practical support offered through a network of partners and local charities. 

For more information visit: www.forcesemployment.org.uk/opnova

Op NOVA Freephone 0800 917 7299 or by email at opnova@forcesemployment.org.uk

Referrals can be made to Op NOVA via the secure justice email address for Police, Probation Service and Liaison and Diversion use opnova@forcesemployment.cjsm.net or via the online referral form forcesemployment.org.uk/opnovareferral.

If you are a member of the Suffolk Armed Forces community, serving or veteran (ex-service) and have a caring role or you are caring for someone who is part of the community, you may be entitled to additional support.  Visit the Suffolk Family Carers Armed Forces community support webpage.

Developed with Help for Heroes, the aim of this online training is to provide you with practice in handling difficult situations where a person may be at risk of suicide.

Our 30 minute online, interactive training course includes three conversation examples: with a loved one, a colleague and a stranger.

Three video stories are also shared. Two from bereaved friends, and one from a former Army Officer, who talks about his mental health struggles and how a letter from his friends stopped him taking his own life.

Visit the Online Training Module

Outside the Wire is a veterans substance misuse support service delivered through The Matthew Project charity. Jason Young is the Recovery Worker for Suffolk. Initial enquiries to the office: 01603 626123 or via online referral.

Alcoholics Anonymous Are you drinking too much, need help with your drinking, have a problem with your drinking, are other people commenting about your drinking, can’t stop drinking. Alcoholics Anonymous has a number of local support groups in Suffolk. AA's sister organisation, Al-Anon: supports families and friends who care about a suffering alcoholic.

Gambling can have significant impacts on relationships, finances, and mental wellbeing. The charity Breakeven offers a free counselling service for anyone who is affected by problem gambling. Our Ipswich office is located at Suffolk Enterprise Centre and we also have more offices nearby in Colchester, Norwich and Newmarket. Visit the Breakeven website for more information.