Armed Forces: Mental Health Services

(asked on 22nd March 2022) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure there are thorough mental health assessments for those leaving the military with a physical injury, even where no symptoms have presented.


Answered by
Leo Docherty Portrait
Leo Docherty
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
This question was answered on 28th March 2022

Structured Mental Health Assessments are part of the medical discharge process, conducted by Defence GPs, that screen for mental disorders at the point of discharge: individuals can then be signposted appropriately.

Where personnel leaving the Armed Forces have an enduring need for mental healthcare, we work in partnership with the NHS to ensure continuation of care. Personnel who have been assessed and diagnosed with a mental health need are able to access Departments of Community Mental Health for up to six months after discharge to provide continuity of care during the transition period until appropriate handover to other services can be completed as required.

The through life mental health support now provided to Service personnel will also have a positive impact on the veterans of the future; we are ensuring that Armed Forces personnel have the psychological resilience training they need to recognise mental ill-health in themselves and those around them and know how to manage it.

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