National mental health service transforms veteran’s life

A former soldier has spoken about how a mental health service for armed forces veterans has transformed his life.

Op COURAGE is a national NHS mental health specialist service, which is designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, veterans and their families.

Since its launch in 2017, it has helped more than 30,000 people across England.

The service has now been expanded to include enhanced specialist support for addictions, and a new national campaign aims to raise awareness of the help the service offers.

Nigel Seaman sought help from the Op COURAGE service in the east of England, where it is delivered by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, St Andrew's Healthcare, Mental Health Matters and military charities The Warrior Programme and Walking with the Wounded.

The team includes experts working in psychiatry, psychology, occupational therapy, and employment, as well as support workers and mental health nurses.

All have a military background or experience of working with people in the armed forces.

Nigel, from Ipswich, joined the Royal Anglian Regiment (known as The Vikings) from 1992 to 2004 – spending significant periods in Colchester, Cambridge, Northern Island and Bosnia.

The service has continued to support Nigel since its launch. While he has made it his mission to support the mental health of other former forces personnel, Nigel knows his recovery journey is not yet over and continues to approach Op COURAGE for support when he is feeling low.

Nigel proudly shares the Op COURAGE message that hope is out there and has signposted numerous veterans to their services through his work with his own social enterprise Combat2Coffee.

He said: “I am a beneficiary of Op COURAGE and the service has really helped me when I needed support and advice while I was trying supress the trauma I experienced from being in the Army.

“I had three major things trigger my mental health. A rugby injury, my dad passing away and I retired from the prison service.

“I went from a man who didn’t stop doing things to stopping and thinking about everything I had going on in my life and the traumas I experienced while I was in the Army.

“It was so hard and I felt as though I was falling apart. It took a massive toll on my life and my family’s life. It impacted us all, especially my kids. It was when I started gambling that someone sat me down and told me I needed help.”

Nigel is really grateful to Op COURAGE and the support the service has offered him over the past few years.

He added: “Whenever something triggers me and I need stability I contact Op COURAGE on the helpline. It is very difficult for veterans to call or admit they need help but I am in a fortunate position where I am able to share my experience with other people now but I wasn’t always able to.

“It’s taken time and therapy but it is a stigma with being ex-military and it is seen as weak if you show you need to talk or something is affecting you, but I really would recommend opening up and seeking help, it’s not weak – if anything it makes you stronger.”

David Powell, EPUT’s Armed Forces Champion and Regional Lead for Military and Veterans, said: “It’s really exciting that we have been able to expand this important service nationally.

“Op COURAGE is an NHS service that supports our military and veteran community in transitioning from the military and for the long term support for the injuries that they received whilst in service.

“We are rightly proud of our commitment to the armed forces community.

“As a Veteran Aware Trust and also the holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme, our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice.”

Op COURAGE provides treatment and support for mental health problems including complex post-traumatic stress disorder and substance and alcohol misuse.

If you or a loved one feel you would benefit from its specialist support, you can contact the team direct. For more information, visit the Op COURAGE service page at https://eput.nhs.uk/our-services/military-and-veterans-transition-intervention-and-liaison-service-op-courage/