Generic health workers provide expert mental health treatment to military veterans
Nominated category: Care of Veterans
For the first time in history, military veterans are receiving appropriate expert prioritised and sensitised mental health treatment thanks to an infrastructure now in place right across the whole of Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS. The service is one of a series of pilot partnership projects between the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Health to improve the mental health care of veterans.
Over 100 professionals now form a network of workers trained in military culture and veteran issues and are now better equipped to understand and engage with the veteran and to meet the full spectrum of mental health needs.
The existence of two networks, one consisting of approximately 105 generic mental health workers who have undergone awareness training in veteran issues and military culture; the second network consisting of approximately 50 trauma workers who have expertise in treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and who have undergone training in applying these skills to the military context.
Training on military culture and veterans’ mental health issues, and working with Military PTSD was collectively provided to over 150 Trust staff across over 60 service delivery teams. Key access points were identified and a media campaign was launched to raise awareness of the service.
Unique to this project, is the overriding philosophy to create a fully ‘integrated’ and culturally sensitive service that delivers the full mental health service, using existing resources and expertise. In this way it is possible to offer a range of skill mixes to meet various mental health needs including trauma. Furthermore, services can be delivered within the veteran’s local context.
This project's approach is arguably more efficient in that it ensures that veterans receive a cultural sensitive service at the key first contact point wherever they enter mental health services, and thereafter through their service journey, by employing the use of mental health workers from mainstream mental health services when required and so increasing the capacity available to them.