New provider of Military Veteran’s Service offers hope for greater recovery
Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMW) has been awarded the contract to provide mental health services for military veterans in Cheshire and Merseyside. Commencing on the 1st November 2015 the service will work with veterans to deliver specialist high quality care with a focus on improving psychological wellbeing, increasing social networks and supporting long- term recovery.GMW will continue to offer timely response rates into specialist mental health services via a single point of contact, for those people who have served in the British Armed Forces.
GMW will also be working in partnership with the leading mental health charity for veterans, Combat Stress to ensure timely, effective clinical treatment and welfare support is provided to veterans who suffer from ongoing psychological issues, resulting from their time as a serving Armed Forces member. In addition to the clinical services, GMW will also be providing the necessary links to support veterans and their families with housing, financial and social needs.
Jane Arands, Network Operational Manager responsible for the Military Veterans Service at GMW said, ‘It is estimated that around 20% of the population qualify as being a veteran and many of those individuals are able to adapt back into their communities easily. However, there are also those veterans who will require mental health interventions and ongoing help to recover from some of the long term adverse psychological effects associated with being in the Armed Forces’.
‘The specialist mental health services we are offering include psychological interventions tailored to each individual with professional care offered to both the service user and loved ones affected by their difficulties. In working with a leading charity who specialise in support for veterans GMW can ensure expert staff who are fully trained and informed to understand the unique experiences of service men and women.’
Clinical Psychologists, High Intensity Therapists, Psychological Well-being Practitioners and Recovery Coordinators will be employed to provide specialist assessments and interventions for veterans experiencing moderate to severe problems with depression, anxiety, substance misuse, trauma, adjustment disorders and problems relating to personality issues.
GMW has extensive experience of successful partnership working, delivering specialist care in mental health and substance misuse services over a large footprint including Salford, Trafford, Wigan, Leigh, Central Lancashire and Cumbria. These partnerships work to improve health and wellbeing for service users who want to regain a quality to life.
The military veteran’s specialist mental health service was originally set up as a pilot delivered by Pennine Care Foundation Trust (FT)as part of Improved Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme. This was the first service type for veterans in the country and considered a significant development in improving access to mental health services for veterans. GMW have worked closely with Pennine Care FT through the transitional phase of the service to ensure veterans who are currently receiving interventions experience a smooth and seamless transition into the Greater Manchester West service.
For media enquiries, contact the press office on 0161 358 1641 or email Katie.guatella@gmmh.nhs.uk.
