Armed forces and mental health: Part 2 – mental healthcare for veterans

This module is part two of a two-part series on the armed forces and mental health. The modules provide useful background information to those who may deliver mental health support to serving or veteran personnel.

Veterans may present to mental health professionals working in most areas of the NHS. It is therefore important that professionals seeing them are aware of the particular difficulties they may experience, and of the specialist services available to assist them.

This module will provide useful background information to those who may deliver mental health support to military veterans. We will cover the epidemiology of mental disorder in service personnel and explain the challenges associated with working in war zones and returning to society as a veteran. We will also provide a thorough overview of the various mental health support processes that the NHS, Ministry of Defence (MoD) and third sector have established to help military veterans and their families.