New NHS intensive mental health support for veterans
A new mental health support service for veterans and their families has been launched in the Midlands, complementing existing NHS services.
The Veterans' Mental Health Midlands High Intensity Service (HIS) delivers an intensive package of support to veterans in crisis and their families. This community service works in conjunction with the NHS Veterans' Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS) and the Veterans’ Mental Health Complex Treatment Service (CTS).
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust will be supporting veterans in Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and Leicestershire.
The HIS team provide a range of interventions to assist with complex mental health difficulties and will travel to support veterans and their families in their communities.
Lynne Davidson, Regional Lead for Veterans’ Mental Health Services at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, said: “As a mental health nurse and veteran, I am passionate about this new development to provide military tailored services to veterans and their families at times of crisis. Working alongside TILS and CTS, this new service is already making a difference.”
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust is working in partnership with Lincoln Partnership Foundation NHS Trust and Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, as well as specialist charities Tom Harrison House and Mental Health Matters, to offer bespoke packages of care.
Dr Dan Barnard, Clinical Lead for Midlands’ Veterans’ Mental Health Services, at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, said: “The new High Intensity Service is a crucial addition to the veterans’ mental health services available in the Midlands. We have learned from veterans and their families, designing this new service in partnership, and aspire to provide the best, most responsive mental health care. We look forward to working with our partners to deliver this exciting new service, which reinforces our continued commitment to delivering military sensitive support to veterans and their families.”
Johnny Mercer, Minister for Defence, People and Veterans, said: "This service complements the existing Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service and Complex Treatment Service to ensure a fully capable and professional mental healthcare provision, provided by the state alongside third sector colleagues.
"It underlines our commitment to stepping up veterans' support across the country and I'm delighted that ex-service personnel in the Midlands will benefit from this."