Combat Stress News - Winter 2013

They fight our wars. We fight their battles.

News

Newsletter of the Ex-Services mental welfare society

www.combatstress.org.uk

spring 2013

battling stigma

Campaign success Update on The Enemy Within Appeal Rehabilitation

Drawn from experience Helping Veterans heal through Art Therapy

Reaching

New

Heights How supporters are going the extra mile to raise funds

treatment

life in the day of a Community Outreach Team

Fundraiser Keith Bunnett on top of Mont Blanc

Registered Charity Number: 206002.

Charity Number Scotland: SC 038828.

Company limited by guarantee: Registration Number 256353

Intelligence

The brief

News/Campaigns/stats

The Invisible Wounded Although it was some months ago now, you may have seen the powerful, thought-provoking documentary The Invisible Wounded on Sky TV. Presented by Ross Kemp and broadcast on 12 November 2012, it explored the devastating effects of mental illness on those who have served in our Armed Forces.

We worked closely with Ross and his team and were very pleased with the result. Many of the Veterans who spoke in the programme are supported by Combat Stress and I was humbled by the courage they demonstrated in sharing very personal dark times, on camera in front of journalists, for public consumption. Without such powerful testimony, the documentary could not have been made and our ability to reduce stigma, find those in need and help them would be compromised. Thank you to everyone involved with this fine programme which reinforces the good work we are doing, with the help of Comic Relief, to reduce stigma.

This year, the number of approaches to Combat Stress for help has risen steadily. We continue to diversify the care we can give, seeking to share the load with the NHS, local authorities and other charities. With invaluable support from our extensive Community Outreach Service, we are all working hard and in new ways to provide our Veterans with the right treatment and support, at a time and place that is right for them.

To this end we have recently expanded our PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme to our two other Treatment Centres — Audley Court in Shropshire and Hollybush House in Ayrshire, meaning that we can provide this innovative treatment programme to more Veterans around the UK (page 10).

In the last month we have also had unannounced inspections by the Care Quality Commission and the Scottish Care Inspectorate. The outcomes were most satisfactory and we were commended for our openness and for involving our Veterans and staff in the change programme that is underway.

Community Outreach Services are very stretched and in

Photo: The Scotsman Publications LTD

by Chief Executive Andrew Cameron

Clive Fairweather will be greatly missed by everyone at Combat Stress

A farewell to Clive Fairweather

Veterans’ champion & friend Colonel Clive Fairweather, a great friend of Combat Stress and a champion for Veterans across the UK, passed away in Edinburgh on 12 October 2012.

Clive was a wonderful man whose commitment to Veterans’ welfare never faltered. His distinguished career saw him serve in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and 22 SAS (he was second-in-command at the Iranian Embassy siege in London in 1980). After leaving the Army, Clive worked as Chief Inspector of Prisons in Scotland and fundraiser for Combat Stress in Scotland.

His compassion and leadership skills were abundantly clear, and all those who worked with him will remember not just his

commitment but his charm and good humour.

Andrew Cameron, Combat Stress’s Chief Executive, paid tribute to Clive: “It was with great sadness that we learned of Clive Fairweather’s passing. Clive was a tireless servant of Combat Stress, and a wonderful advocate of our work and the issue of Veterans’ welfare. He raised thousands of pounds to support our vital work and greatly raised awareness of the mental health needs of Scottish Veterans.

“Clive had a wonderful rapport with Veterans and, as an exService man of considerable distinction himself, was trusted and respected by them. His energy and passion will be sorely missed.”

need of careful reorganisation to ensure Veterans get the best care we can afford. We are increasingly working with the NHS and sister charities to share the load, but we have to do more. A study is underway, which reports to me in March, to work out how we can do better. Please turn to pages 6-7 to read more about the support we offer in the community.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Combat Stress News. I also hope you will support us on our journey to reach out to more ex-Service men and women and help them rebuild their lives.

Thank you.

2 COMBAT STRESS news | spring 2013

Raising a Fortune A massive thank you to the Daybreak team (right) for donating their £30,000 winnings on ITV’s All Star Family Fortunes to Combat Stress.

www.combatstress.org.uk

Intelligence

Hanging up your boots

This event is proudly sponsored by:

The forthcoming event Hanging up your boots will feature Josh Lewsey MBE (left) talking to Michael Vaughan OBE, former England cricketer; Brigadier. Ed Butler CBE DSO, former commander of the SAS; and Damian Hopley, CEO of the Rugby Players’ Association. Ed will discuss life after the Services, while Michael and Damian will talk about life as sporting stars. Proceeds from the event, taking place on Thursday 21 February, will be split between Restart and Combat Stress.

To book tickets see the enclosed events calendar or visit www.combatstress.org.uk/events.

New website launched The new combatstress.org.uk website has now gone live! The site offers more information about the work we do, as well as easier access to all of our services for those who may need our help. Come and visit us!

Paying our respects Over 30 Combat Stress Veterans, along with wives, partners, carers and staff, represented Combat Stress at the National Service of Remembrance held at The Cenotaph, to show their respect for the sacrifices made by Service men and women. Paul Barnsley, ex-Royal Artillery, handed over the Combat Stress wreath before the group marched to Horse Guards Parade to observe the salute from HRH The Earl of Wessex.

Fancy a holiday in rural France?

If the answer is 'yes', then Rosy and John Rabson simply request that you donate generously to Combat Stress to stay in their delightful cottage in rural Burgundy, France. The cottage sleeps four to five and is equipped down to the last teaspoon. For bookings, photographs and links to tourist attractions etc, please visit www. charity-cottage.org.uk or email Rosy or John: rosemary.border@numeo.fr or john.rabson@numeo.fr.

WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK

Arise Sir Simon Congratulations to Combat Stress Trustee Prof Simon Wessely on his recent knighthood for services to Military Healthcare and to Psychological Medicine.

John Marham, Julian Sayers and Peter Poole at the National Service of Remembrance

Veterans take Gadget Challenge Audley Court Treatment Centre is running ‘Gadget Challenge’ sessions courtesy of RAF Cosford educational unit. Veterans have been building vehicles powered by an air compressor (such as a hovercraft). The goal is to travel furthest, and we even have a leader board, just like on Top Gear!

Veterans’ poetry published Courage and Strength is an inspiring collection of stories and poems by Combat Stress Veterans, featuring an introduction by broadcaster Sandi Toksvig and a foreword by General the Lord Richard Dannatt, GCB CBE MC DL. All proceeds from the sale of this book go to Combat Stress.

To purchase a copy please visit www.legendpress.co.uk or call 01372 587 146.

SPRING 2013 | COMBAT STRESS NEWS 3

Fundraising

Thank you!

£70

will help run a support group in the community for the partners and carers of Veterans

£450

Our supporters continue to amaze us with inventive and challenging ways to raise funds. A massive thank you to every single one of you. We really appreciate your dedication.

Support through music

Mountain Lions Will Quilter, aged 16, climbed Kilimanjaro, raising a wonderful sum of £2,257.50 and ex-Service man Keith Bunnett climbed Mont Blanc as a personal challenge, raising £906.

Our supporters with musical talents have been busy again with a number of singles released in support of Combat Stress.

Indie/rock band Clacket Lane moved us with their fantastic song Home Again and touching accompanying video; 17-year-old singersongwriter Rebecca James released the beautiful Feel The Rain; and the poignant Soldier Song came from folk musician Steve Donnelly.

Our cover star Keith Bunnett on top of Mont Blanc

WINCHESTER CONCERT In November, Winchester Music Club, led by Christopher Green, organised a powerful performance of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem at Winchester Cathedral. With more than 300 performers from Winchester Music Club, Winchester College Glee Club and Winchester Music Club Orchestra combining forces with Winchester College Quiristers and Southern Pro Musica, the night was a huge success, raising well over £9,000 for Combat Stress.

Climbing the Matterhorn Caroline Horsburgh and Tobias Buckler climbed the Matterhorn, raising £8,872 between them.

The challenge consisted of nine days walking and climbing in the mountains, with an ascent of the Matterhorn in the final couple of days.

Gavin Mann and Ben White completed Tough Mudder in November, raising over £1,400.

Major Cameron Angus and Team True Spirit Triathlon raised £958.25. The team consisted of Service men and support staff who undertook a series of races in 2012, culminating in the Ironman UK Triathlon — a one-day endurance event.

RAF Pathfinder March Peter Sullivan took part in the RAF Pathfinder

4 COMBAT STRESS NEWS | SPRING 2013

Photo: Chris Lawrence/Alamy

Tough Mudders and Triathlon

SCOTTISH SUPPORT Catherine Ross organised superb entertainment in Aberdeen with the Royal Marine Military Band, raising a fantastic £3,215.

The congregation of Coylton Church held a musical evening, raising £1,300.

pays for a day’s Outpatients assessment, diagnosis and clinical sessions at one of our Treatment Centres

March 2012, raising £863.75. The March is an annual 46-mile long-distance walk around the four main air bases of the Pathfinder Force: RAF Wyton (the HQ), RAF Graveley, RAF Oakington and RAF Warboys (Training Base).

A Minute for the Fallen Tony Gardner completed the ‘A Minute for the Fallen’ challenge, running/cycling one minute for every fallen soldier in Afghanistan (totalling more than seven hours), raising over £2,000.

Port to port Falklands 30: 2012 was the 30th Anniversary of the Falklands War. To mark this occasion, four ex-members of 9 Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers, Bob Chatterton, Steve Morris, Dave Leibrick and Jamie Rankine, ran non-stop from Port San Carlos to Port Stanley in November 2012.

Tough Mudders Gavin Mann and Ben White

Redwoods Challenge Staff of South Staffordshire & Shropshire NHS Foundation Trust completed a 54-mile walk over two days, raising over £1,500.

Sky dive Thank you to Alba Military Fitness who train at Strathclyde Park, Motherwell, for their fundraising efforts, including a sky dive by Skye McLeod raising £1,000!

Tank’d up Team Tank’d Up are four Ayrshire taxi

WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK

Fundraising

Battle Proms

Above: Combat Stress Viking ‘Keef’ at Royal Parks Half Marathon.

Left: Nathan Jones cycled 12,000 miles for Combat Stress

drivers who travelled over 2,500 miles across Europe in a camouflaged Volvo as part of this year’s Screwball Rally and raised £1,180.

Summer runners July saw 85 Combat Stress runners brave the British summer in the British 10k London Run and enjoy a post-race picnic at the In and Out Club, raising over £13,000. Our supporters again hit the streets of London in October for the Royal Parks Half Marathon. 61 runners (including a team from Allocate Software and a Combat Stress Viking!) made their way around the 13.1 mile course and raised a fantastic total of over £36,000 in the process. Hundreds of our other amazing volunteers took part in runs the length and breadth of the country, including Sean Bonner (66 mile Ultra Marathon), Holly Hodge (Glasgow Half Marathon), and Dean Bailey and his team (24-hour Adidas Thunder Run), helping to raise over £123,000 for Combat Stress in 2012.

Intrepid adventurer In September 2011, volunteer fundraiser and courageous explorer Nathan Jones left home in Bristol for an intrepid journey cycling the 12,000 miles to Tokyo. Nathan faced torrential rain, snow and problems with visas along the way. A huge thank you and congratulations to Nathan because in September 2012 he completed his epic challenge, raising a fantastic amount for Combat Stress. En route Nathan kept us all up to date with his fantastic blog. To read about his trip and see Nathan’s photos visit www.cyclingtowardsthesun.co.uk

It was our eighth year at the ever popular Battle Proms and both staff and volunteers had tremendous fun at all six shows, collecting £21,536 in the process. JSL, the company behind the Proms, has topped up our funds with an additional donation of £1,500, and the RAF Association and their partnership with The Blade Aerobatic Display Team raised £11,490, taking this year’s total to over £34,000! A very big thank you to JSL Productions, The Blades Aerobatic Display Team and all our lovely volunteers, particularly those of you who keep coming back to help year after year.

You’ve been fantastic!

Combat Stress would like to give special thanks to these people for their support: Paul Welton has raised over £1,700 since June 2011 through collections and selling our charity merchandise.

Mike Ingle climbed Kilimanjaro, raising £1,297.75 in the process.

Thorntoun Estate at Crosshouse held their annual fete and donated £2,500 as a result.

Bring and buy boost A Christmas bazaar and bring and buy sale took place in the beautiful grounds of Naseby Hall, thanks to Lady Rowley, Mrs Latham and their team of helpers. The morning raised almost £3,000.

Hugo Parkinson ran the Race to Midnight, raising £1,746.20

Emma King-Farlow: The Poetry & The Pity Having already staged two original Remembrance shows, Emma and Shadow Road Productions took on their third for Combat Stress, reaching their target of over £1,000 on the night. Emma and the team are now looking to reach out to a larger audience by staging a new show in 2013 in a much bigger venue.

Caroline Copland: Feet to Remember Caroline undertook an epic journey, walking (in five days) from the Cenotaph in London’s Whitehall to the Menin Gate in Belgium to lay a wreath at the last post ceremony. She also held a fundraising reception at the RAF Club (kindly sponsored by WA Ellis) in May and, together with sponsorship for the walk, raised an invaluable £8,186.23.

Reading Lions: Heroes Dinner Thanks to Reading Lions, Stuart Rowsell and Martin Upstone, who put an enormous amount of time and hard work into organising this very special black-tie event.

The evening raised £7,000 for Combat Stress.

Pupil Tilly Barley of Heathfield School, Ascot, nominated us to be the recipient of proceeds raised from the school’s annual Christmas Fair held on 24 November, totalling over £1,000 Paul McVey held a martial arts evening in Kilmarnock in November and raised £717.

Steve Woodford and staff at the White Horse at Dalrymple held a gala day for the Jubilee and donated £870.

Glensone Garden opened its gates as part of the Scottish Open Garden Scheme, and owners William and Josephine Millar were able to send us a cheque for £640.

Isobelle Quigley raised £1,018 by selling her handmade knitted poppies for Remembrance Day. The White Horse at Dalrymple held a Jubilee day for Combat Stress

Charity of the year Allan Swift (Club Captain) and Forest Park Golf Club chose Combat Stress as their Charity of the Year — we received a very generous cheque for £1,636.30.

We are grateful to everyone who has given up their time and energy to fundraise on our behalf, and to everyone who has donated. Your stories and commitment are spectacular and we thank every one of you.

www.combatstress.org.uk

spring 2013 | COMBAT STRESS news 5

Life in the day of a Community Outreach Team Left: The South Central Community Outreach Team Below: Graham Poulter with a Veteran at one of our support groups

Reaching out to Veterans

£35

The clinical and welfare support offered by our Community Outreach Teams is an invaluable service for Veterans. We take a look at the great work being done by the South Central team Part of a nationwide network of Combat Stress Community Outreach Teams, the South Central team comprises two mental health professionals — Community Psychiatric Nurse Graham Poulter and Mental Health Practitioner Jayne Rowe — as well as Regional Welfare Officer Vikki Muir and Welfare Desk Officer Neil Cottrell, all of whom work closely together to offer the best possible clinical and welfare support to Veterans. They are supported by Pat Donnachie, a Regional Welfare Officer based at Help for Heroes’ Tedworth House.

While Graham, Jayne and Vikki spend much of their week working directly with Veterans in their own communities, Welfare Desk Officer Neil, based at the charity’s Tyrwhitt House HQ in Leatherhead, is many Veterans’ first point of contact. “He’s the glue that binds us together,” says his colleague Vikki. “We couldn’t manage effectively without him.”

Neil says: “We get some very distressing calls. It takes courage to phone; on average it takes Veterans 13 years to muster that courage. These aren’t five-minute

6 COMBAT STRESS news | spring 2013

conversations. Vikki will usually be their first face-to-face contact and will make an assessment at the Veteran’s home address.”

Listening to Veterans’ stories “This can be the first time they have talked about their experiences so it can be emotional,” Vikki says. “We go through the Veteran’s story, picking up on key areas.

The Veteran will then either be referred to the clinical team or for an assessment with the Psychiatrist at Tyrwhitt House. I will also follow them up to see whether they need further support from us or other agencies, such as the Royal British Legion (RBL), the Soldiers Sailors Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA), Services Personnel & Veterans Agency (SPVA) or Help for Heroes.”

Key to the team’s work are monthly Veteran Support Groups. “These meetings help Veterans realise they are not isolated,” says Graham. “They are a chance for Veterans to meet people with common experiences, and offer valuable clinical support as well as advice from NHS

can pay for a session with a Registered Mental Health Nurse in the community

professionals on topics such as sleeping disorders, anxiety and depression.” They include open forums, group and one-to-one sessions, and advice on mental health.

Neil also deals with calls from wives, carers and partners, as well as referrals from social workers, psychiatrists and GPs, but says he needs the Veteran’s consent to begin the process. Another source of referrals is the 24-hour Helpline which receives many calls from Veterans suffering from confusion, anger or depression.

Increasing media exposure of the charity’s work has meant more Veterans are seeking help. “We have over 280 Veterans in our area and this is rising,” says Vikki. “We cover a wide area, from Bedford to the Isle of Wight and from Bristol to Ascot,” Jane adds.

It takes courage to phone our helpline

Jane one

www.combatstress.org.uk

Life in the day of a Community Outreach Team

While Vikki and Neil offer welfare support, Graham and Jayne’s work focuses on Veterans’ mental health needs. Graham’s work involves liaising with primary healthcare practitioners to identify best avenues of treatment and advising GPs on medication management. He draws on his experience not only as a nurse but as an exService man — understanding the effects health condition. I also signpost Veterans to of conflict as well as which conditions local services for assessment or intervention, respond best to which medication. “Part liaise with GPs, community mental health of my assessment is to determine what teams and other services or refer them to treatment might be suitable for the our Treatment Centre in Leatherhead.”

Veteran and to work in partnership with Aside from mental health issues, Veterans other organisations to ensure that the also need to cope with practical issues such Veteran receives timely treatment,” he as finances, housing and pensions. This is says. “This includes referring them to where the team calls on the likes of the RBL, local NHS therapists or back to their GP SSAFA and SPVA. Vikki says: “We liaise for a more formalised programme.” A with other agencies to ensure the Veteran is significant part of his work he refers to as supported from every angle. I help with getting “psycho-educational” — taking the Veteran housing and financial the charity’s message and support — be it emergency food awareness of the problems vouchers, benefits, war pensions, facing serving personnel even holidays to Jersey through to other organisations.

Holidays for Heroes.” is what it costs Part of the problem to run one of our the team faces is that A rewarding role Community Outreach Veterans are often unable The demands placed on the Teams for a week or unwilling to accept team are immense but there they have a problem until are real benefits too. “It is very years after active service. satisfying for me to see their Once they come to Combat journey,” says Neil. “Those who are in Stress, Graham and Jayne waste no time darkness coming out at the other side.” addressing Veterans’ mental health needs.

Graham elaborates: “Our clinical “I spend time visiting, conducting needs and supervision helps Veterans deal with their risk assessments, providing support and experiences and emotions and goes some counselling, as well as delivering community- way to allowing them to lead a ‘normal’ life, based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy,” something we often take for granted.” says Jayne. “My role is to encourage self For Vikki, there is no such thing as a management and promote fulfilment and ‘typical’ day. “You never know what you may well-being alongside managing a mental encounter, especially with a first visit,” she says. “The important thing is that after that visit, the Veteran is on their way to gaining support, treatment and understanding of what they are going through and accessing a wealth of other resources they may not have known about before. That is what makes the day worthwhile.”

Meet the team

We currently have over 280 Veterans in our area and this is rising

£5,000

Help for Heroes have pledged to fund the first three years of the South Central and South West Community Outreach Teams as part of their contribution to The Enemy Within Appeal.

Funded by

Jane Rowe with Veteran at one of our support groups

www.combatstress.org.uk

Vikki Muir

Regional Welfare Officer Vikki has worked in a number of military hospitals providing welfare support.

She has worked at Combat Stress for nearly three years.

Graham Poulter

Community Psychiatric Nurse Graham spent 15 years in the Royal Navy. With a Masters degree in community nursing and mental health, he joined Combat Stress in May 2011.

Jayne Rowe

Mental Health Practitioner With wide experience in mental health services, Jayne has been with us since the South Central Outreach Team was launched 18 months ago.

Neil Cottrell

Welfare Desk Officer Neil joined Combat Stress in November 2009 and is in his final year of studies for a Certificate in Mental Health with the Open University.

spring 2013 | COMBAT STRESS news 7

The Enemy Within Appeal

Appeal impact They fight our wars. We fight their battles

A message from Dr Chai Patel CBE FRCP, Chairman of The Enemy Within Appeal Board

I

t has been an honour to serve as the Chairman of The Enemy Within Appeal over the past three years. As someone who has helped pioneer mental health treatment in the UK, I have a deep understanding of the needs of Veterans suffering from psychological injury and wholeheartedly believe that this need is best served by Combat Stress.

The success of the Appeal and raising the £30 million has been a combined effort and I would like to thank you all for playing your part — participating in active challenges, hosting events, running charity of the year initiatives, making generous donations etc.

Your enthusiasm, creativity and loyalty

“I would like to thank you for playing your part” 8 COMBAT STRESS news | spring 2013

towards fundraising has been inspiring.

Thank you.

Together we have re-shaped the way Combat Stress has been able to deliver its services to Veterans and also addressed the stigma that surrounds Veterans’ mental health, encouraging both Veterans and their families to seek help sooner. In 2010, it was taking all our Veterans with mental health issues an average of 14.3 years between leaving the Armed Forces and seeking help from Combat Stress.

I am delighted that for personnel who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, the timelag has now reduced to 29 and 18 months respectively.

I believe strongly in the Military Covenant — put simply, in return for the risks taken on our behalf by our Service men and women, we have an absolute obligation to look after those who are wounded, and their families. As part of the Combat Stress family, I do hope you will join me

Dr Chai Patel CBE FRCP

and continue to be there for Veterans with psychological injuries so that they have access to the right treatment, in the right place and at the right time.

www.combatstress.org.uk

The Enemy Within Appeal

Appeal highlights The Enemy Within Appeal has enjoyed great success in meeting its aims over the past three years. Here are just some of the highlights…

Launching the appeal

PTSD Intensive treatment

In March 2010, our Patron HRH The Prince of Wales launches The Enemy Within Appeal to transform the way Combat Stress delivers its mental health services and encourage Veterans and their families to seek help sooner.

133 Veterans suffering from PTSD and other complex conditions have completed our PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme since it was launched at Tyrwhitt House in September 2011. This has now been rolled out to our Shropshire and Ayrshire Treatment Centres

Break Point event

HRH The Prince of Wales launches the Appeal

The Hon Mrs Sally Bedford and her committee organised our biggest fundraising event — Break Point. Focussed around screening the Wimbledon Men’s Final at 10 of England’s most prestigious country houses, the event raised over £270,000.

Personal support

Anthony Andrews and Joshua Miles in Bully Boy

24,700 of you have responded to our mailings over the past three years, giving an average gift of £47 and securing over £1.16 million.

Battling stigma 81% of Veterans say they are ashamed or embarrassed about their mental health problems. To address this, The Rt Hon John Bercow MP launched our national awareness campaign, funded

by Comic Relief, to battle this stigma that surrounds Veterans’ mental health and encourage more Veterans to seek help sooner.

BULLY Boy play Driven by her horror at the legacy of war, comedy star Sandi Toksvig has written a heart-felt play, Bully Boy. To much acclaim, Anthony Andrews and Joshua Miles challenge the moral issues of contemporary military occupation and its effect on military personnel’s mental health.

Outreach teams

Giving as you work 350 of you have signed up to support Combat Stress via the Payroll Giving Scheme.

With an average monthly gift of £23, you have raised over £100,000.

TA and reserves The Combat Stress TA and Reserve Forces Liaison team was launched in June 2011, supported by the Westminster Foundation. It has engaged with over 3,211 Reservists, military staff and professionals to date.

www.combatstress.org.uk

Prime Minister David Cameron

PM pays a visit Following release of the Fighting Fit paper, Prime Minister David Cameron and Dr Andrew Murrison MP visit Tyrwhitt House and commit the government to working with military charities to ensure Veterans can access services effectively and engage with treatment provided.

We successfully rolled out our network of 14 multidisciplinary Community Outreach Teams, six months ahead of schedule, thanks to: Help for Heroes, RAF Benevolent Fund, The Royal British Legion, ABF The Soldiers Charity, Seafarers UK, amongst others.

Heroes at the Tower

helpline on call

The Volunteer Committee, chaired

by The Lord Dannatt, have run two unique evenings at the Tower of London, raising over £95,000 for Combat Stress.

We have worked closely with the Department of Health to launch the new Helpline for those members of the military community living with mental health issues. To date there have been 10,855 calls, texts and emails.

spring 2013 | COMBAT STRESS news 9

Supporting Veterans

Expanding our Intensive PTSD Programme

It costs us

£14,500

The PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme has been rolled out to our Shropshire Treatment Centre, Audley Court, and to Hollybush House, our Treatment Centre in Scotland In our last issue, Dr Walter Busuttil, Director of Medical Services, outlined our newly established PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme and its development at our Surrey Treatment Centre, Tyrwhitt House. We are pleased to report that this programme has now been rolled out to our two other Treatment Centres in Shropshire and Ayrshire.

The programme was introduced at the Hollybush House Treatment Centre, Ayrshire, on 17 September and to the Audley Court Treatment Centre, Shropshire, on 29 October.

The programme works with groups of up to eight Veterans at a time, and to date 14 Veterans have completed the programme at Audley Court and 12 at Hollybush House.

At both Treatment Centres we are now running two groups at a time, in order to support as many Veterans as possible. However, this expansion will still allow us the resources to continue admitting Veterans for assessment stays and our Short-stay Treatment

Programme, as well as the followup appointments to those who have completed the intensive programme.

Like at Tyrwhitt House, the PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme at Hollybush House and Audley Court offer three key treatment methods: psychoeducation, skills training and individual trauma-focused therapy. As part of this we have introduced new concepts to the course such as Behavioural Activation and Compassionate Mind Training.

As Veterans are expected to stay at our Treatment Centres for six weeks, a Well-being Programme has also been set up at each centre. This allows Veterans to take part in structured Occupational Therapy, as well as social and training activities during evenings and at weekends. It also enables Veterans to carry out the homework tasks set by the six-week course.

Staff feedback: “We have received positive feedback and it has been a good experience so far.

Date each centre began the programme: • Tyrwhitt House: 4 September 2011 • Hollybush House: 17 September 2012 • Audley Court: 29 October 2012

Veterans who have completed the programme • Tyrwhitt House: 107 (a further 16 are currently on the course) • Hollybush House: 12 (a further 16 are currently on the course) • Audley Court: 14 (a further 16 are currently on the course)

10 COMBAT STRESS news | spring 2013

for a (non-English) Veteran to take part in our PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme. (English Veterans are funded by the Dept of Health)

Staff are enjoying the structure and focus that the programme allows.”

Clare Armstrong, Operations Manager North, Hollybush House “Staff told me that they could see the Veterans becoming more relaxed and in a lighter mood and spirit. One of our Community Nurses visited and couldn’t believe the change in a Veteran she knew.”

Jackie Jones, Service Development Manager, Audley Court

A Veteran’s experience Falklands Veteran Brian Jones was just 21, when British Ship HMS Sheffield was hit by an Argentinian missile. Twenty of Brian’s comrades perished that day, and survivors spent hours fighting fires before their ship was abandoned.

Every second of that traumatic day and the subsequent weeks is still seared into Brian’s mind. Brian tried to repair his life, but was badly affected and continued having “episodes”.

For years afterwards, Brian drank too much and withdrew from friends and family, feeling “angry, frustrated, even violent at times”. It was only in 2009 that Brian finally sought treatment and was diagnosed with PTSD at Combat Stress.

The PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme was a turning point. “Brian was completely different,” smiles wife Melanie, describing his transformation.

“It was like living with a new person.”

For Brian, seeking help has made all the difference, giving him the strength and tools “to break the cycle of depression and the black thoughts”.

www.combatstress.org.uk

Meet the Team

Audley Court Treatment Centre

Five things I’ve learnt As a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Combat Stress, Morag Heggie helps Veterans with PTSD to move on in their lives. Here she shares her top five learning points MORAG HEGGIE is a Clinical Nurse Specialist based at the Combat Stress Audley Court Treatment Centre. Morag works with the multi-disciplinary team of psychiatrists, therapists, psychologists, nursing staff and management to provide the best possible care for Veterans.

Audley Court recently introduced the Intensive PTSD Treatment Programme for Veterans, in which Morag plays a key part. “My role is to help the team share their knowledge and experiences to create an effective team to deliver this complex programme,” she says.

1

A sense of humour is essential

“I wouldn’t have survived 16 years working with Veterans without a sense of humour. Once a client starts to trust you, you can help them to start the process of rekindling old skills — and humour is a valuable survival skill. People let off steam, relax, bond with peers and deflect painful emotions by using humour.

Very often, clients say to me they’d forgotten how to laugh until they met other Veterans at Audley Court. Despite undergoing some very difficult work, they say they’ve laughed more here than they have in years.”

2

There’s no quick fix “Some of our clients have long-term complex needs and sadly often mistrust people who are trying to help them.

Our job is to build a safe, trusting and

www.combatstress.org.uk

therapeutic relationship with them.

Trauma sufferers need to trust their therapist implicitly; they may have been suffering for decades and it’s our challenge to show we’re worthy of their trust.

Only when we’ve established a strong therapeutic relationship can we work together effectively.”

“Just when everyone is exhausted there will be a light bulb moment, and a breakthrough”

3

Working with traumatised exService personnel is challenging

“Veterans haven’t just been through one traumatic event — often they’ve survived dozens of incidents, any one of which would have a profound effect on any of us. Therapy can be really hard work for both Veterans and staff — emotions run high. But just when you are feeling exhausted, there will be a light bulb moment and you’ll recognise that you’ve made a breakthrough. For example, I use Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing therapy a lot. Following a session, someone who had been suffering with severe PTSD for over 30 years will suddenly say, ‘It’s over, Morag. It’s in the past.’”

4

Family and friends are enormously important

“If we can help Veterans to maintain relationships by providing education and support to partners and families, their chances of recovery undoubtedly improve.

Communication is a key component. Our aim is to help strengthen and maintain clients’ key relationships as the support of others is an important, evidence-based component of recovery. That’s why we bring in partners for group therapy in the Treatment Centres, and we’re working hard trying to establish more partner groups with our Community Outreach Teams.”

5

Having a single point of contact for Veterans provides a ‘Rolls-Royce’ service

“Each NHS Primary Care Trust is working toward provision of a Veterans’ Champion, who provides a single point of contact for Veterans. Recently, working with this service, I’ve seen first-hand just how effective this approach can be. Diverse and complex issues affect Veterans, so they may need a number of different professionals to create comprehensive care packages.

This may include help with housing issues, neurological investigations, mobility aids, treatment for their mental health, and help with financial issues and finding work.

Champions can co-ordinate the multiple agencies involved in addressing those needs and, as such, provide Veterans with timely appropriate care, as is their right.”

spring 2013 | COMBAT STRESS news 11

Art Therapy What the Veterans say:

“If you have trouble communicating, it’s another form of communication.”

“It’s easier to communicate like this than sitting eyeball to eyeball with someone, because there is a focal point (the image).”

“The unconscious is trying to communicate with your conscious brain to say, ‘That’s what’s worrying me.’ ’’ “You are looking at yourself through the images.”

“It brings an understanding of what is happening inside you. It opens up things that explain an awful lot.”

“It’s amazing what’s actually in there but you didn’t realise — it just comes out.”

“It’s a snapshot of what’s in my head at the time, my emotions and my feelings.”

“This is the therapy that opens the doors.”

12 COMBAT STRESS news | SPRING 2013

Art Therapy allows Veterans to express hidden feelings

www.combatstress.org.uk

Art Therapy

£66

can pay for a twohour Art Therapy session for a group of up to five Veterans

£10

will help provide materials for our Art Therapy work

New ways of thinking and seeing Art Therapy helps break destructive thought patterns, providing a valuable release for Veterans, writes Jan Lobban, Trauma Therapist at Tyrwhitt House.

A

rt Therapy is a treatment that features in our programmes for Veterans at our Surrey Treatment Centre, Tyrwhitt House. Veterans do not have to be good at art to participate as it is the creative process itself, rather than the quality of the end product, that is important. Creativity is the antidote to rigid, repetitive thought patterns that can hamper recovery, opening up new ways of thinking and seeing.

An Art Therapy session can be with an individual or a group, usually lasting up to two hours. Sometimes a theme is suggested then Veterans can move into a creative space to explore what this theme means to them, using art. Afterwards, the group comes together to discuss each Veteran’s interpretations of the theme.

On Armistice Day 2011, BBC2 broadcast a Culture Show Special entitled ‘Art for Heroes’, about Art Therapy with Veterans.

The documentary was watched by over two million people and involved filming an Art Therapy group at our Tyrwhitt House

www.combatstress.org.uk

Treatment Centre. We were given the uncut version of the footage by the BBC so I was able to transcribe what was discussed on film and, with the Veterans’ consent, made an analysis of the content (Lobban, 2012) to try to pinpoint how and why Art Therapy helps.

Connecting with others The group identified problems in specific areas: feeling disconnected, avoidance of emotions, presenting a ‘mask’ to the world to protect a sense of vulnerability, and the ‘stuckness’ of traumatic memories.

However, during the Art Therapy process the group demonstrated being able to connect with others and their own emotions. They were able to drop the ‘mask’ and to express their feelings, as well as start to process their experiences.

Through Art Therapy, it is possible to integrate experiences in ways that might not be possible by using words alone.

Neuroscientist Dr Lukasz Konopka, who also featured in ‘Art for Heroes’, has worked extensively with Vietnam Veterans who have PTSD and has done scientific research into the effects of Art Therapy.

He considers Art Therapy essential as it taps

into primitive brain networks and helps to establish new neural pathways that can alter function and be long lasting, introducing new learning at a structural level.

Traumatic memories are held in the (nonverbal) right brain hemisphere which can be accessed by Art Therapy, using its own language of symbols and sensations. Once expressed through art, these memories can be decoded and put into words to make sense of experiences using left brain reasoning and analysis, and therefore assisting the processing of trauma.

References Belkofer, C.M., & Konopka, L.M. (2008).

‘Conducting art therapy research using quantitative EEG measures.’ Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 25(2), 56-63.

Lobban, J. ‘The Invisible Wound: Veterans’ Art Therapy’, In: International Journal of Art Therapy Routledge, online Sept. 2012.

Samuels, T. (Presenter), & McArdle, L. (Director). (2011, November 11). ‘Art for Heroes: a Culture Show Special’ [Television series episode]. The Culture Show.

Glasgow, UK: BBC2.

SPRING 2013 | COMBAT STRESS news 13

Fundraising

Appeal for Legacies We appreciate that family and loved ones come first when making a Will but we would like you to consider leaving a small gift or proportion of your estate to Combat Stress after taking care of those closest to you.

As a charity, Combat Stress depends on donations to provide expert treatment to traumatised Veterans, which can turn around their lives and the lives of their families. A gift in your Will can make this possible.

If you have already pledged a gift to Combat Stress, thank you very much. However, did you know that by making this gift at least 10% of your taxable estate you will decrease the amount of tax your other benefactors have to pay? This is due to the introduction of a new law which reduces the rate of Inheritance Tax from 40% to 36%, if 10% of the taxable estate is given to a qualified charity. If your legacy

to Combat Stress is under 10% why not consider making this change; your other benefactors could be better off.

To check if you qualify please visit www.hmrc.gov.uk/inheritancetax We realise that this is a big decision and would like to assure you that a gift of any size will have a real and lasting impact on the lives of many Veterans and their families.

We understand that your Will is private but if you do decide to leave a gift to us in your Will, please do let us know as it helps us plan our long-term work. We’ll treat the information that you give us as strictly confidential.

To request a Combat Stress legacy leaflet please contact us by phone on 01372 587 154 or email victoria.monks@ combatstress.org.uk

Corporate support ICAP CHARITY DAY 2012 On 5 December 2012, Combat Stress was chosen as one of the charities to benefit from the ICAP Annual Charity Day. ICAP is a world-leading broker and provider of post trade risk and information services.

When its brokers came in to work on Wednesday 5 December they donated 100% of their commissions that day to charity and the company donated 100% of its revenues. Lord Archer, actor Cliff Parisi and opera singer Camilla Kerslake all helped to raise a significant sum from the day for Combat Stress. Further funds were raised through various auction prizes generously donated by our supporters. The total raised globally on the day was an amazing £11 million for 200 charities around the world.

ICAP’s support has provided vital funds for Combat Stress’s

14 COMBAT STRESS NEWS | SPRING 2013

Outpatient Programme at our Surrey Treatment Centre, as well as our Community Outreach Team in Central England.

The Outpatient Programme will mean that Veterans who do not wish to or cannot stay at one of our Treatment Centres have access to accurate and timely assessments of their psychological needs.

RAISES FUNDS Cobham plc, international developer of aerospace and defence technology, has held many fundraising events in support of Combat Stress. During a dedicated fundraising day in September, staff raised over £16,000 for Combat Stress — a truly fantastic amount!

Michelle Campbell, Partnerships and Sponsorship Manager at Combat Stress, said: “I would like to thank the staff at Cobham plc. A donation of this size can make a big impact: for example, £16,200 would fund the running of one of our vital Community Outreach Teams for three weeks.”

ALLOCATE SOFTWARE RUNNERS Well done to Allocate Software employees Ubaldo Matty, Jules Martinez and Chris Fenton who successfully completed the Royal Parks Half Marathon, raising a fantastic £2,087! The company has a number of contracts with defence organisations and consequently the staff understand the challenges faced by our military community. A big thank you to Allocate Software for donating generously towards this sum!

If your company would like to support Combat Stress, please contact Michelle Campbell on 01372 587 157 or email michelle.campbell@combatstress.org.uk

WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK

Ways to donate

£12

a month, over a year, can pay for a home visit from our Community Outreach Team

With so many ways to give, supporting Veterans with a donation to Combat Stress has never been easier…

£75

can pay for a Veteran’s consultation with a psychiatrist

We are enormously grateful to our supporters. Without your generous donations, we would not be able to deliver vital care to the Veterans who need our help. Your support means we can continue to provide hope to Veterans with psychological injuries.

Give online Want a quick, hassle-free way to give?

Donate at www.combatstress.org.uk.

For more information about donating online, please contact Rachel Kulsdom on 01372 587 153 or email rachel.kulsdom@ combatstress.org.uk

Mobile donations Donating by text couldn’t be easier — in the body of your text simply write PTSD00 followed by the amount you wish to donate, e.g. PTSD00 £5, and send to 70070. Text donations will either be deducted from your mobile phone credit or added to your bill — and you won’t pay VAT on your contribution.

Mail your support Prefer to donate by cheque or postal order? Send to Combat Stress, Tyrwhitt

WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK

Combat Stress is dedicated to helping those who have suffered mental ill-health as a result of their military service. Through our Community Outreach Teams, we visit Veterans at home to see how best we can help. Through our three Treatment Centres, we provide treatment to help Veterans cope and enjoy a better quality of life.

Name Address

Postcode Telephone Email  I am happy to receive emails from Combat Stress

To make a donation over the phone, or to make a monthly direct debit, please call

01372 587 151 I wish to help ex-Service men and women. Please find enclosed my donation of £ I enclose a cheque/postal order/CAF voucher made payable to Combat Stress.

Direct Debit Regular donations reduce our admin costs, meaning we can spend more of your money on the vital services we provide to Veterans. It also means we can plan our work better as we have a reliable source of income. You can donate as frequently as you like — most of our supporters give monthly to spread the cost. For details call Cathy Long on 01372 587 152 or email cathy.long@combatstress.org.uk

Your Gift to Donations a Veteran

House, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BX. Cheques are payable to ‘Combat Stress’.

OR please debit my: Credit/Debit/CAF Card (delete as appropriate) Card No: Expiry Date:

Recycling

Security Code:

The recycle scheme has helped to raise a total of £1,800 for Combat Stress in the past year. Massive thanks to all who have got involved, it really does make a difference. If you would like to read more on the scheme, please visit the Each One Counts website www.eachonecounts. co.uk and click on ‘Charity Partners’ to search for Combat Stress, or contact Gemma Hughes on 01372 587 151 or gemma.hughes@combatstress.org.uk

(last 3 digits of the number on the signature strip)

eBay eBay for Charity is an easy way for sellers to support their favourite charity.

You can support Combat Stress whenever you sell an item. Whether you’re an individual or business, you can donate a percentage from any sale to Combat Stress. Please turn to the back page for more information.

For more information on any method of donating, please visit www.combatstress.org.uk and click the ‘Support us’ button.

Start Date:

Issue No:

Signature: Cardholder’s name (if different from above)

 Please tick this box if you would like to receive a thank-you letter. SNL13 If you are a UK taxpayer (remember, pensions are taxed too) we can reclaim the tax you have already paid on the money you give to help our work. For every £1 you donate we are able to claim an additional 25p from the Inland Revenue. So far, this financial year, we have raised over £207,500 through Gift Aid.

Simply tick the box below:  Yes, I am a UK taxpayer and wish Combat Stress to reclaim the tax on all donations I have made since 01/04/2008 until I notify them otherwise.

The Inland Revenue has asked us to remind you that you must pay an amount of income tax and/or capital gains tax at least equal to the tax we reclaim on your donations in the tax year.

You must complete the name and address box above for us to reclaim your tax. Please return this completed form to: The Director of Fundraising, Combat Stress, Tyrwhitt House, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BX Registered Charity Number: 206002 Charity Number Scotland: SC 038828 Company limited by guarantee: Registration Number 256353

SPRING 2012 | COMBAT STRESS NEWS 9

Fundraising

eBay for Charity donations Sell something and give something — it’s an easy way to raise funds for us!

You can raise money for Combat Stress whilst selling your unwanted goods online. eBay for Charity allows you to list an item on eBay and select a percentage of the final sale price to donate (10%-100%, with a £1 minimum donation per listing). If you’re a UK taxpayer, you can increase the value of your charity donations by 20%, by simply selecting the Gift Aid box when you first list an item. Visit www.ebay.co.uk/charity to learn more.

Matched Giving scheme There are many opportunities to successfully fundraise for Combat Stress in your workplace, and many companies now allow employees to raise funds for their chosen charity through a scheme known as ‘Matched Giving’. This simply involves the

employer donating a pound for every pound that the employee raises. Depending on company policy this could be up to the full amount raised!

Matched Giving can also benefit your company: • It can boost employees’ morale by supporting their fundraising efforts.

• The publicity attracted as a result of their charitable giving can be invaluable to the company.

• The company can write off charitable donations against taxable profits.

Ask your employer about Matched Giving as a way to double your fundraising donations to help support our Veterans.

We are sincerely grateful to all our supporters, including the following:

NEWS

DONATE NOW Visit our website to find out more about what we do and how you can help: www.combatstress.org.uk