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Veteran Women Find Support in New NHS Service
24 Jul
Summary
- A year-old mental health service for female veterans is being considered for national replication.
- The Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust runs the successful support groups.
- Forty-eight women have received help, with other trusts expressing interest.
A pioneering mental health support service for female veterans, launched a year ago by the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, is gaining national attention for its success. This initiative has already provided crucial assistance to forty-eight women across Norfolk and Suffolk.
Organizers are receiving inquiries from other National Health Service trusts interested in implementing similar programs. The service facilitates group sessions where women can share experiences, benefiting from peer support and discussions on topics relevant to their military careers and post-service lives, such as pensions and the menopause.
Vicki Bailey, a clinical nurse specialist, noted the increasing recognition of specific challenges faced by women veterans. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has also developed a new toolkit to offer bespoke guidance. The MOD stated it is increasing investment in NHS services for veterans, acknowledging a debt of gratitude for their service and recent improvements in mental health support.
One beneficiary, former RAF medic Chelley Tulloch, shared her positive experience, having previously struggled with PTSD and low moods following deployments. She emphasized the importance of accessible support for the growing number of women in the military and those transitioning out.
