Specifically designed to promote peer support amongst those serving, the guide champions “looking after your mates”, and covers:
- Identifying someone struggling to cope with mental health issues
- Understanding the complexity of suicide
- Knowing when to intervene, support and report
- Where to get further support, including the Samaritans service, whose volunteers are available any time, via phone and email or in person at the charity’s 201 branches, and the recently launched Combat Stress 24/7 Military Mental Health Helpline
Minister for Defence People and Veterans Tobias Ellwood said: “While military mental health continues to be slightly better than the general population, we’re committed to ensuring that those who need help are able to get the support they need. This guide, alongside our extra investment in mental health care and the 24-hour Mental Health Helpline, will be invaluable in helping our people to help each other.”