ABSTRACT

This chapter describes the work of the charity as an example of how to deliver an ongoing intervention to meet the needs of veterans with mental health problems. Veterans usually present to veterans' mental health charities such as Combat Stress an average of 14 years after they have left the Services. A significant proportion of the reserve forces deploy on operations or active service with the regular forces. For some, leaving the military may serve to reactivate attachment difficulties that may have existed prior to joining the military. Referral for those with mental health problems is usually to a uniformed multidisciplinary community-based occupational mental health service in Departments of Community Mental Health. Veterans who develop mental health problems after leaving the services may be eligible for a War Pension or an award under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. Combat Stress provides mental health welfare multidisciplinary treatments within a combination of community-based services, as well as within residential rehabilitation programmes.