Help with mental health
24 hour mental health support
Op Courage
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.
The service offers you a range of support and treatment, including:
- Intensive emergency care and treatment if you’re in a crisis
- Help to transition from military to civilian life by providing mental health care with Defence Medical Services (DMS)
- Support for armed forces families affected by mental health problems, including help to access local services
- Help to recognise and treat early signs of mental health problems as well as more advanced mental health conditions and psychological trauma
Everyone at Op COURAGE is either from the armed forces community or is experienced in working with serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families. They understand military life and the courage it takes to speak with someone. They will work with you to make sure you get the right type of specialist care, support and treatment.
24 hour support - you can call the Op Courage West Midlands Team at any time
- Telephone: 0300 323 0137
- Email: mevs.mhm@nhs.net
Mental health services and support
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust
The Trust provides services for people of all ages, across a range of settings, experiencing both physical and/or mental health conditions across Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust is committed to support the Armed Forces mental health needs and has a dedicated mental health practitioner who supports veterans and their families in Herefordshire.
The veteran mental health practitioner can offer advice, signposting and support to veterans and their families as they step in and out of mental health services.
- Please call 07980979016 (Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 5pm)
- Or pop into Herefordshire Veteran Support Centre on Mondays, 19 West Street, Hereford HR4 0BX.
Herefordshire Veterans & Families Mental Health Network
Hosted by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, Herefordshire Veterans & Families Mental Health Network draws together relevant groups and organisations from the NHS, military charities, support groups and specialist services. It aims to ensure the development and improvement of local mental health and similar services for all members of the local Armed Forces community, including family members.
Combat Stress
Confidential help and advice about service-related mental health issues for the whole military community, including families.
- Telephone: 0800 1381619 (24/7)
- Email: helpline@combatstress.org.uk
- Mental health services for veterans | Combat Stress
Suicide prevention
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Suicide Prevention Programme
Funded by NHS England, the national programme was set up a couple of years ago to work with teams in local areas with the highest level of need to support them to strengthen their local suicide prevention plans, to improve safety and ultimately reduce suicide and self-harm rates across the general public. The programme is about early intervention and provision of prevention in everyday settings specifically targeting middle aged men. The team works across both counties, collaborating closely with military charities and in veteran settings to reach out to individuals who may resist access to mental health support. There is a range of local and national resources available to anyone experiencing a mental health crisis available for anyone to access.
Samaritans Veteran App
Samaritans Veterans is a free app that aims to help manage the emotional challenges of leaving the military. The app can be accessed on a desktop, tablet or mobile device.
One is too many
Offering support to vulnerable and suicidal veterans. One is Too Many provides information, coping tools and signposts to organisations where you can find further support.
LGBT+ Veterans
Fighting with Pride
Fighting with Pride is a military charity supporting LGBT+ veterans, serving personnel and their families, particularly those who were affected by the ‘gay ban’, ultimately lifted on 12th January 2000. They offer befriending support from those with similar ‘lived’ experiences as well as practical guidance.
Support for veterans with dementia
Café Muse
Orchestra of the Swan deliver weekly musical workshops, lunches and performances at the Courtyard Hereford for Armed Forces veterans living with dementia. Café Muse is an opportunity for Armed Forces veterans affected by dementia (including carers and/or family members) to meet weekly. The interactive sessions are delivered by trained musicians who are themselves veterans.
Support with substance misuse
Herefordshire Recovery Service, Turning Point offers an integrated substance misuse service providing free and confidential support for adults and young people around their use of alcohol and other drugs. Turning Point have a dedicated Armed Forces recovery worker. To contact them:
- Telephone: 0300 555 0747 or
- Email: Herefordshire@turning-point.co.uk
The Cart Shed
The Cart Shed runs a veteran programme in North Herefordshire offering a range of courses in coppicing, crafts, hedging/fencing and horticulture. Running alongside the programme is specialist mental health support to help manage issues individuals may be facing. They also offer ‘Escape to the Woods’ holiday activities on a regular basis for military children.