In a year like no other, World Mental Health Day 2020 came at a time when many lives were (and continue to be) turned upside down. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that many areas of society are under increasing pressures and thousands are struggling to get the right support, not just for their physical health, but for their mental health too.
As figures show that one in six people will experience mental illness at some time in their lives, last October, we joined people around the world to mark a day of promoting a positive mental attitude and supporting those who may be struggling. We invited our colleagues, clients and those in our communities to join us for a series of virtual webinars to explore the World Federation for Mental Health’s theme of ‘mental health for all’.
The sessions covered a wide variety of topics from mental health in the military community, to exploring the positive effects of sport on mental health and wellbeing and helping those who have suffered the loss of a baby.
Andrew Buckham, Major (Retd) AGC (ALS), and partner in our military injuries team hosted our webinar on ‘Discussing PTSD and Mental Health in the Military Community’ and he spoke from experience saying “when you leave the armed forces, it can be a lonely experience. No-one sits you down and warns you about the effect of that.”
Insight from our guest speakers
Andrew was joined by Dr Boyana Stefanova, Counselling Psychologist at Combat Stress, Dr Jennie Ormerod, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Mark Perryman, Commercial Training Manager at Defence Medical Welfare Service and RAF Veteran.
Throughout the webinar, our panellists discussed a range of issues, including the general trends of mental health in military personnel and veterans, the impact of moral injuries and women who have served and suffered PTSD.
One particular issue that veterans face after leaving the military is building a support network of those that understand their background. With many resources and services now being held virtually, it is more important than ever that veterans are speaking to people with a shared understanding of what they’ve experienced. Unfortunately, like a lot of mental health services, getting access to the right therapy is made more difficult due to a lack of resources and funding.
Whilst the panellists discussed some areas of encouragement to suggest that the system is improving, there is still a concept that mental health in the military is a stigmatised subject and there is a long way to go to ensure everyone gets the right support.
Dr Jennie Ormerod said “one of the difficulties to supporting those who have left the armed forces is ensuring they are in contact with support services, because of loose family ties they move around a lot and it’s hard for the Military of Defence to keep track of where people are residing. Not everyone will want to identify themselves as a veteran.”
As we discussed family members helping loved ones with mental health difficulties, Dr Boyana Stefanova said “It is very important to work with the family so they are aware of their triggers which can result in painful memories. We work with people to understand what those triggers are, and what might be a helpful supporting strategy in that moment.”
Mark Perryman suggested for people to check out Veterans Gateway (link), which has really good resources. He said “Many charities and dedicated services are still helping people with online welfare support. Our own welfare officers are based in hospitals, and veterans can access support services that way. Ex-service people are very good at making the best of what they have and it makes you more aware of your resources - focusing on that is a really good idea.”
Solicitor in our military injuries team Stephanie Clark said “everyone is different and it’s important to remember that treatments and coping strategies are unique to everyone. We hope this webinar series provides individuals and their families with an insight in to different mental health conditions and how they can take steps towards improving their mental health. Stephanie also hosted a webinar on the impact of mental health on young people and how families can help to overcome difficulties surrounding mental health.
Our panellists also answered questions from our live audience, including signposting the families of our military community to support charities and services which are available to all. You can watch the recording of the webinar below.
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