Combat Stress News - In Touch, Spring 2014

WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK

InTouch

Further information on our range of services for Veterans

S P R I N G 2 01 4

Uncovering the best road to recovery

VETERANS TELL IT LIKE IT IS

Getting stability back into Veterans’ lives is the first step towards a better future

O

ver the years we’ve come to understand that many Veterans come to us with more than one mental health issue, making it much harder for them to get better. They may have difficulty controlling their anger or suffer from high levels of anxiety, as well as suffering from the flashbacks and nightmares that can come from mental health conditions.

We help each Veteran to get stability back into their lives – this makes the rest of the treatment work much better. For example, the first thing we may need to do is target substance misuse.

We’ve just begun a pilot scheme so we can learn which programmes already exist to deal with substance misuse and identify those which work best to meet the particular needs of Veterans. It can be hard to find this kind of help but we know it’s out there and that Veterans really need this support. We are doing the legwork and analysis in each region and then sharing the results with our Community and Outreach Teams across the UK. This should lead to more Veterans getting better quality help, and faster.

For many who are looking for help to overcome psychological injuries, the road to recovery is

“For many, the road to recovery is unknown territory. We aim to help Veterans successfully navigate this difficult terrain”

unknown territory. We aim to help Veterans successfully navigate this difficult terrain.

Working as part of our Community and Outreach Teams, our Regional Welfare Officers (RWOs) helped 917 Veterans in 2013, around 100 more than in 2012. RWOs know what life can be like after the military – especially with mental health and/or substance misuse issues – and support Veterans, guiding them to the best sources of help. Each Veteran gets an expert assessment and help to weigh up the options and make a plan. Help may come from the NHS, our treatment programmes or other organisations who are specialists at meeting particular needs.

Our goal is to help Veterans return to living a fulfilling life by getting the best help on offer.

After each Veteran’s stay at one of our treatment centres, we get them to rate the experience.

We’ve made great strides in listening carefully to Veterans’ concerns during their stay – this figure has gone from 68% to 89%. However, Veterans told us that we need to improve some of our written communication.

Although almost everyone received printed details about the centre beforehand, less than 50% got details of the programme itself. Nevertheless, we’re proud that 92% of Veterans rated us “very good” or “excellent”, and 96% are “likely” or “extremely likely” to recommend us.

92

%

of Combat Stress Veterans rated us “very good” or “excellent”

100,000

is the number of Veterans we have supported so far

InTouch If you would like to support Combat Stress, call us on 01372 587 140 or email fundraising@combatstress.org.uk

Support We are currently supporting more than 5,400 ex-Service men and women, including 806 who served in Iraq and 519 who served in Afghanistan

OT isn’t just keeping busy…

O

ccupational Therapy (OT) is a term you may come across when learning more about what we do at Combat Stress. We’ve been using various forms of manual and physical activity to help people get better ever since we started in 1919. But OT is much more than just something to keep you occupied. It’s a way to calm the mind, open up new ways of thinking and expressing yourself or exploring memories in a safe environment. You can learn something new, practice or sharpen existing skills and maybe even get some training that could lead to a job.

OT is structured and focused with trained therapists running the sessions but it is also very enjoyable. The sessions are evaluated to make sure they meet Veterans’ needs. Recently Veterans who cooked a meal together at Tyrwhitt House enjoyed the experience, were motivated to get into the kitchen when they returned home and felt better about themselves for having done a good job.

For more details, please visit www.combatstress.org.uk

“Working together as a group was great.

We enjoyed the banter and coming up with a great meal” TAKE A LOOK AT THIS LIST – OT REALLY OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! • T’ai chi • Baking, cooking and healthy eating • Photography • Willow-weaving • Music group • Gardening • Woodwork • Relaxation techniques • Creative visualisation • Yoga • Walking • Wii fitness • Art-working in clay, paint, crayon and collage • Mosaic tile craft • Model and soft toy-making • Textiles and sewing • IT and computing Veterans have tried out Wii fitness

WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK

THE NUMBERS

20%

of Afghan and Iraq Veterans are predicted to develop a common mental health disorder 27% more Afghanistan Veterans asked for our help during 2013

13%

of Iraq and Afghan Veterans misuse alcohol 4% of Iraq and Afghan war Veterans are predicted to show signs of PTSD

18

months is the average time that Afghan Veterans wait to get help from Combat Stress 18 years is the age of the youngest Veteran we have helped

13

years is the average time that Veterans wait to get help from Combat Stress

If you’re in Liverpool, Pop-In! In the not too distant future we will be teaming up with The Royal British Legion to offer our services in local high street Pop-In Centres. The first will be in Williamson Street, Liverpool L1, and there are plans for more across the country.

We hope that the presence of the Legion’s poppy will encourage Veterans through the door. Once inside, Veterans will be able to access expert advice and information, and talk to a Combat Stress staff member.

Working with the Legion, we will be able to offer more for Veterans and, by being seen on the high street, we hope more people will come forward for assistance.

From help with benefits and housing, to getting started on the assessment process for treatment, these one-stop shops should make a real difference to a great many Veterans and their families. We will keep readers posted when new Pop-In Centres are opened.

24-HOUR

HELPLINE

0800 138 1619 Our Helpline is available 24 hours a day to the military community, including Veterans, serving personnel, Reservists and their families.

Trained staff are there to listen, give support and direct callers to our support workers or refer them on for specialist help.

BACK AT WORK? TELL YOUR STORY

WHAT’S NEW AT THE COMBAT STRESS RESIDENTIAL CENTRES

Everyone likes to hear a good story and it’s hard to beat a real-life tale of success. That’s why we’d like to hear from anyone who has been out of treatment for about a year (so we can get the full ‘before’, ‘during’ and ‘after’ of your story) and who is now back at work. Speak to your Key Worker if you’d like to get involved. Your fellow Veterans might not know anything about Combat Stress, but they will understand how we can help – and need to know that they aren’t alone – when they hear the story of how you got through it.

Hollybush House in Scotland now has high-speed fibre optic broadband, which should make picking up emails and staying in touch with work, friends and family even easier and faster.

The activity centre at Audley Court in Shropshire has been refurbished – it now has a great kitchen where Veterans can learn new cooking skills or share their favourite recipes.

There is also a new Outpatients’ area and a fourth bedroom wing is nearly complete.

Tyrwhitt House in Surrey has enjoyed the benefit of keen volunteer gardeners. The new wildflower meadow will be looking beautiful by the summer and the vegetable plots used during Occupational Therapy will make for tasty additions to the canteen’s menu.

InTouch We’d like to know what you think of InTouch, please email your comments to feedback@combatstress.org.uk

Climbing the Outreach peaks

T

he members of our Community and Outreach Teams possess a wide range of skills – from handling initial phone calls from Veterans seeking help, to professional assessments of the support and care that’s needed – but they go much further…

Getting to know Veterans over time means that Community and Outreach Teams can suggest activities that fit in with each

Veteran’s care plan. One such extra activity came from Adventure Quest, an organisation for Veterans teaching mountaineering skills that lead to recognised qualifications.

After Adventure Quest approached our Anglian team, several Veterans were referred. We received very positive feedback from the Veterans – they felt increased self-confidence and wanted to undertake more outdoor activities.

We’re always on the lookout for activities and therapies that will aid Veterans’ recovery, even if they’re halfway up a mountain.

A handy, at-a-glance guide to Combat Stress’s services

LOOKING GOOD! Combat Stress has a new logo, one which we feel really reflects our strengths. We strive to provide Veterans with the help and support they need to move on from the effects of military-related psychological trauma. We lead the field and our new image promotes the positive outcomes we achieve.

On average, Veterans first approach Combat Stress for help more than 13 years after their Service discharge, by which time their condition is often highly complex.

As the Veterans’ mental health charity, we treat a number of conditions, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. To help Veterans rebuild their lives, we provide a range of free services: RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT STAYS Short-stay clinical treatment and PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme – specialist services are on offer at our Treatment Centres in Ayrshire, Shropshire and Surrey.

LOCALLY BASED AND AT OUR CENTRES Outpatient Treatment – assessment by psychiatrists and psychologists to diagnose and deliver the right treatment.

PASS IT ON! Once you’re done with your copy of InTouch, why not pass it on to someone else to read? You might know another Veteran who may need help from Combat Stress – or an encouraging member of the family that could help him or her to come forward. Asking for help can be a big deal – but those who are getting well know that it’s really worth it. So go on, pass on InTouch – you could change a life for the better!

Visit combatstress.org.uk/shop to check out our new wristbands, t-shirts and mugs. If you want any up-to-date literature, please call 01372 587 100 or email contactus@combatstress.org.uk

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Using meaningful and creative activity, we encourage Veterans’ hope, well-being and recovery.

COMMUNITY AND OUTREACH TEAMS Our UK-wide network provides treatment and practical support to Veterans and their families in their own home.

RESERVE FORCES LIAISON TEAM Working directly with Reservists and military staff, this team supports their particular mental health needs.

24-HOUR HELPLINE Our confidential service, which can be accessed on 0800 138 1619, is a great start for any Veteran who needs our help or wants to find out more about Combat Stress.