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For those of you still serving the first port of call should be your Medical Officer, the Chain of Command, Welfare or the Padre.
For veterans the first port of call is your GP.
For reservists the first port of call is the Reservist Chain of Command or your GP.
MILITARY AND VETERANS’ MENTAL HEALTH
COMBAT STRESS
Veterans and families Helpline: 0800 138 1619 (24 hrs 365 days a year)
Text: 07537 173683
Serving personnel and families Helpline: 0800 323 4444 (24 hrs 365 days a year) Email: helpline@combatstress.org.uk
Provides confidential help, advice and support on mental health to the military community, veterans and their families
FORCESLINE
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/get-help/forcesline
UK Freephone: 0800 260 6767 (09:00 - 17:00 Mon-Fri)
Email: Online contact form through website
Part of SSAFA (formerly Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association), this support line offers confidential, non-judgmental guidance on all
personal/welfare issues including:
• discrimination
• alcohol and drugs
• bullying
• depression
• debt
• relationship counselling
HELP FOR HEROES HIDDEN WOUNDS
www.helpforheroes.org.uk/get-support/hidden-wounds
Tel: 0300 303 9888 (09:00 - 17:00 Mon-Fri)
Tel: 0800 138 1619 (Out of Hours – Combat Stress)
Email: getsupport@helpforheroes.org.uk or complete an online form on their website. Provides confidential support delivered by psychological
well-being practitioners via phone. Open to service personnel, veterans and their families.
OP COURAGE: THE VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING SERVICE – ENGLAND ONLY
www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-and-veterans-healthcare/veterans-nhs-mental-health-services/
Mental health support for veterans, service leavers and reservists.
Op Courage is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, Armed Forces
veterans and their families.
Op COURAGE can help you and your family with a range of support and treatment, including:
• helping you transition from military to civilian life by providing mental health care with
Defence Medical Services (DMS)
• helping you recognise and treat early signs of mental health problems, as well as more advanced mental health conditions and
psychological trauma
• providing support and treatment for substance misuse and addictions
• helping you to access other NHS mental health services if you need them, such as finding an NHS talking therapies service and eating
disorder services
• liaising with charities and local organisations to support your wider health and wellbeing needs, such as help with housing, relationships,
finances and employment
• supporting armed forces families affected by mental health problems, including helping them to access local services
VETERANS WITH DOGS
Tel: 01626 798 030
Email: info@veteranswithdogs.org.uk
Offers support to current and former members of the British Armed Forces whose psychological or physical well-being may have suffered
due to difficult past experiencesand challenging life circumstances via engagement with dogs.
GENERAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES & CHARITIES
TOGETHERALL (PREVIOUSLY BIG WHITE WALL)
https://togetherall.com/en-gb/
Big White Wall | Togetherall
A peer support network for civilians, serving personnel, veterans and their families. Community members offer each other support
in a safe and anonymous environment guided by trained mental health professionals
MEN’S ADVICE LINE
Tel: 0808 801 0327 (10:00 - 17:00 Mon-Fri)
Email: info@mensadviceline.org.uk
Webchat: Available through website (10:00 - 11:30 Weds, 14:00 – 16:00 Thurs)
Next Generation Text Service: If you can’t hear or speak on the phone all the helpline advisors at
Men’s Advice Line have been trained to communicate with the Next Generation Text Service facility.
Further information can be found here: http://ngts.org.uk/
Confidential helpline for men experiencing domestic violence from a partner or ex-partner or from other family members. Offers emotional
support, practical advice, signposting to other services for specialist help.
MIND
Infoline: 0300 123 3393 (09:00 - 18:00 Mon-Fri), Email: info@mind.org.uk
MIND provides information, advice and support on mental health issues and services, but they don’t
provide a listening service or a crisis service.
Legal line: 0300 466 6463 (09:00 – 18:00 Mon-Fri), Email: legal@mind.org.uk
Legal line provides legal information and general advice on mental health related law. You can ask about: being detained under the Mental Health
Act (sectioning); mental capacity; community care; discrimination and equality.
Welfare benefits line: 0300 222 5782 (09:00 – 17:00 Mon-Fri)
Welfare benefits line supports anyone with mental health problems who is navigating the benefits and welfare system.
NHS 111
Tel: 111
If you have difficulties communicating or hearing call 18001 111 on a text phone.
Call to speak to a healthcare professional to assess your symptoms and direct you to the care or treatment you need.
RETHINK
Tel: 0808 801 0525 (09:30 - 16:00 Mon-Fri)
Email: info@rethink.org
Webchat available on the website (10:00 – 13:00 Mon-Fri)
Offers practical help and advice for those with mental illness on issues such as:
• financial support
• community care
• welfare benefits
• carers’ rights
SAMARITANS
Tel: 116 123 (24 hours a day 365 days a year)
Email: jo@samaritans.org
The Samaritans offer a safe place to talk any time and provide confidential, non- judgmental and emotional support 24 hours a day,
all year round.
TURNING POINT
Email: Online form available through website
National health and social care provider to help people find a new direction in life and help tackle substance misuse, mental health issues
or employment difficulties.
YOUNG MINDS
Parent Helpline: 0808 802 5544 (09:30 - 16:00 Mon-Fri)
Parent helpline email: Online contact form available through website
For Young people – YoungMinds Crisis Messenger: If you’re a young person who needs urgent help Text
‘YM’ to 85258 (24/7 support)
Offers free, confidential online and telephone support, including information and advice, to any adult worried about the emotional problems,
behaviour or mental health of a child or young person up to the age of 25.
MEN’S SHEDS
Tel: 0300 772 9626 (09:00 – 14:30 Mon-Fri)
Email: admin@ukmsa.org.uk
Men’s Sheds (or Sheds) are similar to garden sheds – a place to pursue practical interests at leisure, to practice skills and enjoy making
and mending. They’re about social connections and friendship building, sharing skills and knowledge, and of course a lot of laughter.
LOCAL & REGIONAL VETERANS’ MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
NHS LONDON VETERANS
The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service - London and the South East
veteransservicelse.nhs.uk Tel: 0300 365 2000 (Option 4)
Email: sc.veterans@nhs.net or awp.swveterans@nhs.net
Free NHS Mental Health Service available to all ex-serving members of the UK Armed Forces living in Greater London Region or registered
with a GP in this area.
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