Mental Health Support
“I had a very positive experience with my EFT session. I have had issues with sleep and anxiety and this session eased the anxiety and made me feel more relaxed. I also had a good night’s sleep. They teach you the exercises so that we can practise it for ourselves. Highly recommended.”
Battling with your mental health can feel isolating and overwhelming, and we recognise how hard it can be to reach out and ask for help. Thankfully there are a variety of organisations who have the expertise and experience to help Veterans in need of mental health support.
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But it is not a "one size fits all," we recognise it is important to find what works for you. So please have a read through, and see if there any options here that would suit you.
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Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service
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Op COURAGE are here to help and understand the courage it takes to speak to someone. When you contact Op COURAGE, you'll speak to people who:
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understand the Armed Forces and military life
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are either from the Armed Forces Community or highly experienced in working with Serving Personnel, Reservists, Veterans, and their families
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will work with you to make sure you get the right type of specialist care, support, and treatment that you need.
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VWS is run by the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Veterans UK and provides free one-to-one support to Veterans or anyone supporting a Veteran, their families and dependants, with a national network of welfare managers across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
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One Is Too Many offers information, coping tools and advice for service leavers and Veterans who feel isolated or are struggling with their mental health. The site also lists the contact information for NHS Crisis Teams for Veterans which can be found here.
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Need urgent support?
If you feel unable to cope or keep yourself safe, Samaritans offers free 24/7 listening support.
Call 116 123 or visit the Samaritans website.
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Support for Veterans on an SWV Pathway-
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)
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EFT sessions are available to veterans with PTSD, pain and other mental health difficulties who have participated in an SWV programme or are currently taking part in one.
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EFT is an evidence-based treatment method with over 100 clinical studies demonstrating its efficacy for issues including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. It has also been shown to be effective at helping people cope with chronic pain and sleep disturbances.
The treatment combines elements of exposure therapy, cognitive therapy, and somatic therapy in the form of 'tapping' with the fingers on acupressure points on the face and body. It is safe, non-invasive, and does not require veterans to revisit their trauma in painful detail – something veterans frequently cite as a benefit of the method.
Our sessions take place one-on-one with a qualified practitioner, either in-person or online. Veterans also learn EFT techniques to use outside of sessions when needed to reduce symptoms or improve their daily lives.
To apply - please speak to your SWV Mentor.
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