Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Mental Health Support for Veterans

Monday 15 March 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Chi Onwurah asked the Minister about steps taken to improve mental health support for veterans in the north-east and UK.
  • The Minister highlighted the launch of Op Courage, which integrates three NHS England veterans' mental health services into a single point of access.
  • Sharon Hodgson discussed the increase in demand for mental health support among military charities.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
NHS Veterans
Context

The MP is concerned about the high demand for mental health services among veterans in the north-east. There are significant waiting times for appointments under the veterans' transition, intervention and liaison mental health service.

Question

What steps he is taking to improve mental health support for veterans in the (a) north-east and (b) UK. But waiting times for face-to-face appointments under the veterans' transition, intervention and liaison mental health service was 37 days in 2020 against the Government's own target of 14. North-east charities, such as Forward Assist and Anxious Minds in Newcastle, do fantastic work to support veterans in civilian life, but they have been overwhelmed with demand.

Answer from Johnny Mercer

The Office for Veterans' Affairs champions our veterans' mental health and wellbeing needs at the heart of Government. Op Courage was launched bringing together three NHS England veterans' mental health services with a single point of access. With funding of £16 million written into the long-term plan for the NHS, rising to £20 million by 2022-23, world-class veterans' mental health care will be available in this country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not address whether care for veterans' mental wellbeing should begin before they leave the armed forces or what is being done to ensure better support during the transition.

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Q2 Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
NHS Veterans
Context

The MP is concerned about the high demand for mental health services among veterans in the north-east. There are significant waiting times for appointments under the veterans' transition, intervention and liaison mental health service.

Question

But waiting times for face-to-face appointments under the veterans' transition, intervention and liaison mental health service was 37 days in 2020 against the Government's own target of 14. North-east charities, such as Forward Assist and Anxious Minds in Newcastle, do fantastic work to support veterans in civilian life, but they have been overwhelmed with demand.

Answer from Johnny Mercer

I do not recognise the waiting times the hon. Member relays to me, but I am happy to write to her about what I understand them to be. Let me be really clear that with the funding that has gone into veterans' mental health—£16 million written into the long-term plan for the NHS, rising to £20 million by 2022-23—I am absolutely determined that world-class veterans' mental health care will be available in this country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not address whether care for veterans' mental wellbeing should begin before they leave the armed forces or what is being done to ensure better support during the transition.

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Q3 Sharon Hodgson Lab Washington and Gateshead South
Mental Health Veterans
Context

The MP is concerned about the reluctance of service members to speak out about their mental health issues, similar to Meghan Markle's experience. There has been an increase in demand for mental health support among military personnel.

Question

Last week, we saw Meghan Markle speaking out about how her pleas for support for her mental health crisis were dismissed. While obviously the military is a very different institution, military charities continue to see an increase in demand for mental health support, although people do still struggle to speak out. What steps is the Minister taking to help reduce the stigma around mental health in the military and veteran community?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

I pay tribute to the hon. Member for all the championing she does in this area. Mental health has come on in leaps and bounds, particularly in the last five to 10 years. Actually, this year we are introducing mandatory mental health and fitness training for our armed forces personnel, which they will undergo every year.

Answered
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