Mental Health Support
Mental health problems are common and can affect anyone, including ex-forces personnel, veterans, serving personnel, reservists and their families. It is important to get help and support if you or someone you know has mental health problems.
There are a number of local and national services available to support you and your family:
Hull and East Yorkshire Mind can offer a variety of support, from one-to-one support to group sessions. They are based at Wellington House, 108 Beverley Rd, Hull and be contacted by calling 01482 240200 or emailing info@heymind.org.uk. There is lots of self-help advice available on the HEY Mind website here.
Local Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast clubs are held locally and provide opportunities to talk to like-minded people. The idea behind the breakfast clubs is that veterans and serving Armed forces personnel can meet face to face to enjoy breakfast and banter, with veterans ‘returning to the tribe’. There are currently clubs held in both East and West Hull, Beverley, Hornsea, Withernsea, Market Weighton, Bridlington, Pocklington, Driffield and more. To find details of your nearest club search here.
Veterans Transition Intervention Liaison Service (TILS) and the Veterans’ Mental Health Complex Treatment Service (CTS) are dedicated out-patient services available across England to ensure those who have served their country get the support they need.
TILS is for those approaching discharge from the military and veterans who are experiencing mental health difficulties. CTS is for ex-forces who have military related complex mental health difficulties that have not improved with previous treatment.
Access to both services is via TILS on 01482 335479 or by emailing HNF-TR.veteransoutreachservice@nhs.net. Individuals can self-refer or ask for a GP or military charity referral. NHS England has developed this leaflet to further explain the services.
Togetherall is an online mental health support service offering anonymous, round-the-clock online support with trained counsellors, free resources to help you improve your health and safe forums for supportive conversation with peers. It's free for all serving personnel, veterans and family members. Register and access support on the Togetherall website.
If you need to talk to somebody, Combat Stress have a dedicated mental health support helpline for veterans and their families. This provides confidential advice and support and is free to call for veterans, family members and carers. This helpline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 0800 138 1619. Alternatively call the North outreach team on 01292561350 or email OutreachNorth@CombatStress.org.uk
The Veterans and Reserves Mental Health Programme is a Ministry of Defence (MoD) specialist service that provides mental health assessments and treatment advice for veterans and reservists.
It works closely with the NHS and DMS to provide appropriate treatment.
You can usually only access this service if a GP refers you to it. Ask your GP about a referral if you feel your time serving in the armed forces has affected your mental health.
GOV.UK: Veterans and Reserves Mental Health Programme.
Further details of national support is available on the NHS website here.
Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a charity dedicated to supporting children & young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces. They provide help and support to bereaved military children and young people aged 0-25, through our four Family Programmes; Smiles, Support, Strides and Springboard.
This helpline is for service personnel and their families, allowing them to access the help, advice and support they need anywhere, anytime, and is open 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. Call 0800 323 444.
Hull 4 Heroes aim to ensure that the transition back into civilian life and regular employment is as seamless as possible. Our ever-growing network of support creates homes, provides education and sources employment for veterans who have put their lives on the line in the name of their country and its people.
The Hull 4 Heroes have a GEO group, named after George ‘Geo’ Ellis a former Yorkshire Regiment soldier who took his own life, is a place where former and current service men can come together, talk, and ‘get emotion out’. The sessions run every Wednesday from 6pm at the Hull 4 Heroes office on Whitefriargate; no need to book, just turn up.
There is also the Lisa's Ladies Talking Group, named after Lisa Bateman a former soldier in the Royal Medical Corps who took her own life at 34. The sessions run every Wednesday from 6pm at the Hull 4 Heroes office on Whitefriargate; no need to book, just turn up.
The team are based at 7 Whitefriargate, Hull Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 to 3pm. General enquiries can be made by emailing enquiries@hull4heroes.org.uk or calling 01482 534483. For support email support@hull4heroes.org.uk or call 01482 428019. Telephone lines are open or answer phone 24/7.
Find out more about Hull 4 Heroes here and more about the Veterans Village here.
SSAFA provide a range of specialist services and offer practical, financial and emotional support.
Call SSAFA on 01964 552837 (Option 3) or the SSAFA Forcesline on 07749476055. Join the SSAFA group on Facebook here, email the team on eyorks.branch@ssafa.org.uk and visit the website here.
Formally the Veterans Community Hub, the team are based at The Octagon, Walker St, HU3 2RA. The Armed Forces Community Hub can offer a range of support to serving, and ex-forces personnel, their families and carers, including housing, social isolation, welfare, finances, employment, education and training. Call the hub coordinator, Joanne Atkinson, on 07712321429. Visit their Facebook page here and read more about the service here.
Details of support and services available to the Armed Forces community and their families living in the East Riding of Yorkshire, including information on community and relationships, families, children and young people, health and wellbeing, employment and education, housing and money advice is available here.