Published on: 28th March 2024
Monday 1 April 2024 will mark one year since the veterans’ mental health and wellbeing service Op COURAGE came together as the midlands partnership, offering the full range of mental health and wellbeing services across the region. Since then, the service has supported more than 1,500 veterans, service leavers, reservists and their families across both the East and West Midlands.
Developed with people who have served in the Armed Forces and experienced mental ill health, Op COURAGE works together with charities and NHS services to make sure people who have served and are struggling with their mental health and wellbeing get the specialist care, support and treatment for their specific needs.
Doug Wing, Operational Lead for the Midlands Op COURAGE Partnership, said:
“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved over the last year. It’s important to recognise the hard work and dedication of all our teams across the entire partnership, who deliver incredible support to veterans and their families across the midlands helping them to rebuild their lives.”
Support through OP COURAGE is provided by trained professionals from the Armed Forces community, or people with extensive experience of working with the military.
Sarah Riseborough, an Op COURAGE Community Support Worker, said:
“After serving over 22 years in the Army, I struggled to find my feet in the civilian world for a while. Working for the NHS has given me a ‘sense of purpose again’ which I seemed to have lost initially after leaving the Army. Being a veteran myself, has given me an enormous advantage in engaging with service leaders because ‘I get it.’
“Quite often veterans feel they are ‘misunderstood’ and really struggle to communicate how they are feeling. It makes a significant amount of difference to service leavers knowing they do not have to try and explain themselves to someone who can relate to their experiences.”
Veterans, their families or other health professionals can refer, or self-refer to services by calling 0300 323 0137 or emailing mevs.mhm@nhs.net.
Please visit www.opcouragemidlands.nhs.uk for more information.
Midlands Op COURAGE is proudly delivered in partnership by: Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, St Andrew's Healthcare, Walking With The Wounded, The Ripple Pond, Tom Harrison House, and Mental Health Matters.
