Forces in Mind Trust has awarded £71,695 to Centre for Mental Health for a new research project examining how mainstream mental health services recognise and respond to the needs of former Service personnel and their families.
The project will explore how “veteran-friendly” care is experienced and delivered in everyday mental health settings across the UK.
It will look at the practical challenges and enabling factors that shape how mainstream services support the Armed Forces community, as well as where gaps remain between policy and delivery.
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Forces in Mind Trust said the work aims to improve the identification of need and the tailoring of support in mainstream services, helping former Service personnel receive more consistent, responsive and effective care.
The research will place particular emphasis on under-served groups, including women, LGBTQ+ people, people from racialised communities and early service leavers.
The project will use a mixed-methods approach, including a national survey, workshops and in-depth case studies to understand the experiences of former Service personnel.
It is expected to run for 12 months.
Andy Bell, chief executive of Centre for Mental Health, said: “Mental health services in the UK seek to provide high quality, equitable care to anyone who needs their support. But one size doesn’t fit all.
“We’re delighted to be able to carry out this work to explore what veteran-friendly mental health care looks like for mainstream mental health services. This complements the NHS’s veteran-specific mental health services, to ensure that there is no wrong door to the right mental health support.”
Michelle Alston, chief executive of Forces in Mind Trust, said: “Many former Service personnel and their families rely on mainstream mental health services, yet staff in those settings may not always be aware of their background or the lasting impact of military service.
“This research will give us a much clearer picture of where care is working well and where support is still needed outside of Armed Forces-specific services. We are delighted to fund Centre for Mental Health to lead this important work to help ensure that the Armed Forces community is well-equipped to navigate mainstream mental health services.”
