Mind comments on boost to war veterans mental health care

Posted Friday 23 November 2007

Leading mental health charity Mind today (Friday 23 November) comments on the Government's plans to provide specialist mental health care to ex-military servicemen.

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of mental health charity Mind, said:

"There's no doubt that soldiers can suffer considerable trauma in conflict zones, and it goes without saying that for people experiencing trauma on a daily basis, mental health care should be an absolute priority.

In recent months more and more ex-servicemen have been contacting Mind not knowing where to go for help, highlighting that the need for specialist mental health care has become increasingly urgent.

The Government's plans to extend mental health services to all war veterans are a considerable improvement on current policy, which has in the past excluded people from much needed after-care, and seen others queuing up for urgent treatment.

Whilst these plans are a step in the right direction, we now need the Government to invest new funds in long-term care and support, including regular mental health check-ups for servicemen, and increasing the range of support they can access so that this very unique need can be fully met."

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