Publish date: 29 December 2021
In August 2021, the Health and Social Care Secretary announced plans to provide an additional £2.7 million for Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service to support UK armed forces veterans impacted by recent events in Afghanistan.
This additional funding, which has been matched by £2.7 million from NHS England and NHS Improvement, is facilitating the expansion of Op COURAGE, along with providing treatment for complex mental and physical trauma, as well as alcohol and substance misuse. As part of this, care co-ordinators will act as a point of contact for veterans, helping them to navigate health and care services and liaising on their behalf with health and care professionals.
Who is this extended provision for?
Whilst Op COURAGE is available for service leavers, veterans, reservists and their families, this additional funding is specifically aimed at veterans who have served/been affected by recent events in Afghanistan, military police and interpreters who supported the UK Armed Forces in Afghanistan, and families impacted by this conflict. Events such as this can devalue the sacrifices made and exacerbate and/or trigger symptoms due to moral injury.
What are the timings for this extended service provision?
NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with Op COURAGE providers, armed forces charities and patient representatives to develop a service delivery model that includes the following elements:
- Clinical assessment and treatment plan development
- Care co-ordination of complex cases
- Access to drug and alcohol misuse services
- Translator services.
As part of this, longer term sustainable plans are being developed to support those impacted by the Afghanistan crisis, with enhanced service provision due to be available from March 2022 for an initial period of three years. In the meantime and with thanks to our partners and lived experience representatives, Op COURAGE has been available for referrals since August 2021, providing mental health support to those affected by events in Afghanistan.
Further information
For further information on this increased service provision, email: england