Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Damien Moore and Tobias Ellwood

Monday 5th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mike Wood (Dudley South) (Con)]

16. What steps he is taking to improve mental health support for members of the armed forces and veterans.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Tobias Ellwood)]

The Ministry of Defence works with a range of partners to ensure that service personnel and veterans receive the best mental health support possible. There has been a comprehensive overhaul of our approach to mental health, as I mentioned earlier, with our mental health and wellbeing strategy. However, I stress that the number of mental health cases dealt with in the armed forces is smaller than in the general civilian population.

[Damien Moore]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that organisations such as SSAFA, which runs a weekly support group in my constituency of Southport, play an essential role in providing help and support to veterans, including any mental health support they may need?