The Long Term Effects of Military Sexual Trauma (MST)

The day the soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help them, or concluded that you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership. —Colin Powell

The term, soldier; refers to any person who serves in the armed forces and engages in any form of military service for their country.  They live by the values set by the military: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless-service, honour, integrity, and personal courage.

Yet, for many women undergoing basic training, their first encounter with a patriarchal power structure, can be traumatic and demeaning. The hierarchical ‘male dominated’ structure leaves many women feeling undervalued, unappreciated and having to work twice as hard as others just to prove themselves.  It is not hard to see how basic training can create an environment in which sexual predators can thrive without fear of punishment, the power imbalance is extreme. The group of women veterans I work with often report that they never felt accepted into a male-centric world and were often made to feel unwelcome, outsiders or ‘under the microscope’ and micro-managed. This, not surprisingly led to many feeling undervalued, lonely, isolated, homesick and many chose to leave.

Its a sad fact that many women who serve in the armed forces experience some form of harassment and/or Military Sexual Trauma. (MST) Yet, in the main it generally goes unreported.

Lets explore the differences between MST and rape - historically rape has been legally defined as the unwanted penetration of a woman’s vagina by a penis or other item (Bourke, 2007). Military Sexual Trauma (MST) has been defined as sexual harassment that is threatening in character or physical assault of a sexual nature that occurred while the victim was in the military, regardless of geographic location of the trauma, gender of victim, or the relationship to the perpetrator. Its not hard to see how one can lead to the other.

For many women, reporting a sexual assault is harrowing, women report feeling isolated as other personnel in the unit turn their backs on the victim/ survivor, often siding with the perpetrator. The unit’s collective shunning, heightens the victim’s emotional pain and complicates recovery from the trauma. The act of MST by a comrade or high ranking Officer is often perceived as a double betrayal and destroys trust in individuals and the system. Many women who access the specialist support of Salute Her tell how reporting an assault during their career is effectively ‘ Off Limits’ - they worried that had they reported problems, they would be humiliated, not believed, ostracised and the problem located with them not the perpetrator.

‘I think the main problem with the Military is that men can do what they want, women are there to be used and abused , you couldn’t tell anyone, why would you,  no one would believe you’

It is no secret to us, that sexual assault in the military is widespread, however the evidence is anecdotal and determining the number of victims depends on more research and whether the question is asked in the first place. Sadly during the course of running this project we have frequently been told that the reason for so little research into this area is due to the military and academics not liking to talk about sex, as its not British. Well, in my view neither is rape!

A large percentage of women Veterans who access Salute Her report that they were reluctant to complain about harassment, bullying and inappropriate behaviour during service as they were fearful that they would not be believed, blamed or feared the ramifications for their careers and friendships.

Those who do make a formal complaint are often left feeling dissatisfied with the outcome of the investigation and follow-up action was for many non-existent. Similarly, many said they had experienced negative consequences for the rest of their careers and were left feeling humiliated.

Military Sexual Trauma isn’t a diagnosis or a condition, but rather a lived experience, there are no “common symptoms” of MST.  The onset of these reactions may not be immediate; it’s not uncommon for problems to materialise weeks, months, or years after the traumatic event.

Military Sexual Trauma can often result in symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. There are a number of reasons why MST and PTSD are so closely linked, many of which include having to live and work with the perpetrator after the event to the point of even possibly relying on them for safety or to provide essentials like health care or food.

Many women may have already left military before first experiencing the traumatic effects of MST. These devastating life experiences can have a prolonged effect on not just their physical and emotional wellbeing but impact on future employment opportunities, personal and professional relationships and many struggle to cope and function years after the assaults took place.

In my opinion, the sacrifices women service personnel and veterans have made for this country are equal to that of their male counterparts , and we owe them all a debt of gratitude, equal respect and adequate specialist support services that are able to meet their unique needs.

 Paula Edwards

Mental Health Therapist and Salute Her Project Lead.

Supporting Those With Invisible Wounds!

I don’t think anyone would disagree that we have a ‘duty of care’ when service personnel come home from war or active service disabled, maimed and/or with mental trauma. The larger service charities do a fantastic job in supporting those with physical injuries; the provision sadly becomes less comprehensive for those that are left with the ‘invisible wounds of war’ such as operational combat stress, traumatic brain injury, moral injury, military sexual trauma, survivor guilt ,compassion fatigue and adjustment disorders.

Mental trauma as a result of service life is on the rise and the spate of suicides amongst former service personnel in the US and the UK is an indication that the access to specialist ‘wrap around’ support is not as comprehensive as it should be. This is not just an issue of veterans gaining access to specialist mental health support when it is needed, but also about supporting our veteran’s transition back to the civilian community and assisting in what can be a very difficult assimilation process.

This process can take decades, as veteran issues are complex and at times compounded by socio-economic and psycho-social factors that can exacerbate general and complex mental health issues and negatively impact on future life chances if not managed in a ‘holistic’ and coordinated way. It is not just the responsibility of the MOD/ NHS or service charity sector to ‘pick up the tab’ when our soldiers return home, we all have a moral and collective responsibility to welcome former military back into the communities in which they choose to live. Far too often we meet veterans who self isolate, are lonely and choose to live an insular, solitary existence. Many have been wrongly diagnosed, prescribed the wrong medication, traumatised in many different ways and left to suffer in silence .

Its a sad fact that a significant number become dependent on prescribed and/or illicit drugs including alcohol and eventually end up ‘self medicating’ in the absence of veteran specific psychological services or support. A growing number of veterans are becoming involved with the Criminal justice System, yet it is debatable if poor decision making can be directly attributed to service life.

The above notwithstanding, we should not have to wait until the soldiers and veterans of this country commit suicide to indicate something is fundamentally wrong with the system of support made available to them. In many ways politicians do not understand the issues.... simply because the ‘grass roots’ veteran population does not have a voice and MP’s traditionally seek the opinions of the larger service charities. Most of whom, are far from the beating pulse of real life and lived experience. Sadly MP’s only get to hear what the stakeholders think they want to hear. I am of the view that the Defence Committee should consult with the plethora of grassroots organisations that support veterans if it is serious about creating a country that is is best place in the world to be a veteran. The bar has been set … so its time to jump over it!

Tony Wright CEO

The Forward Assist UK -USA Veterans Exchange Programme.

In 2011, Tony Wright CEO was awarded a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowship and embarked on a life changing, six week research trip, travelling across America visiting numerous veteran centric projects on the way. On return to the UK he put the learning into practice and to set up both Forward Assist, Salute Her and the UK-USA Veterans Exchange Programme which funds and facilitates week long trips to the USA for UK Veterans. Participants act as cultural ambassadors while being offered a fully immersive life-changing lived experience. The goal is to promote communication and connection for veterans on both sides of the Atlantic which in turn helps support a successful integration back into civilian life and encourage grassroots improvement and the development of veteran services in both countries. To date we have facilitated nine research trips with another two planned for 2021-22

On return to the UK we consult with participants and evaluate feedback from both parties: Below is just a flavour of the feedback.

“A wonderful cross-cultural experience that enabled veterans from both countries to share experiences” “Meeting amazing people from America who have had similar experiences was amazing”

“It was interesting to greet the British who shared the same experiences. We built an international comradery and friendship”

“Gained an insight into how other cultures (countries) do things.”

“ Meeting gentlemen from another country who had the same experiences as you do. Then being able to go out and go hunting and fishing among other things with them was wonderful”

“The welcome we received from all the people we have met has restored my faith in human nature”

“A great experience which one will never forget”

“Experiencing different cultures and fantastic outdoor activities allowed me to make new friends and this experience is going to help me when I get home”

“ I was surprised how far behind the UK is in relation to the care of the veterans and their well being”

“I realised that I need to be more of a family man when I get back home.”

“Our two countries are intertwined with a common language, culture, religions and national interests global politics require that our troops serve shoulder to shoulder for the betterment of the world”

“To be honest, the most important thing that I have learnt is how phenomenal the experience is and how the whole of the USA cares and loves their veterans.”

“ I have learnt that its OK to demonstrate my love for my wife from the role models I saw in the US”

“ I have learnt to listen and be more tolerant of people”

“I have never experienced so much respect or love from people I only just met”

“ I’m going back on my own next year to stay with my new friends”

“ Never thought I would have had a change to participate in such a pioneering exchange programme”

“it enriched my life”

“People showed me how to be a good father and husband”

“I have learnt that I can actually be sociable with people”

“ The support American veterans receive from the CJS should be mirrored in the United Kingdom”

“ Instead of incarceration we should mentor them to help others”

“It seems USA are definitely more advanced in looking after their personnel after leaving the Armed forces”

“Laying a poppy wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery was a unbelievable honour and an experience I will remember for the rest of my life”

“My time at Boulder Crest Retreat has changed my life”

“First time in Seattle and it blew my mind”

“I want to live in Texas”

“The welcome I received at Boulder Crest Retreat in Arizona was unbelievable and the learning has changed my life. I was also involved in writing a country song with my group and its been recorded, unreal!”

I couldn’t believe how open our American colleagues are to share learning and best practice, it doesn’t happen in the UK”

“ Women veterans are really respected in the USA”

“I can honestly stay coming to the UK has been the best experience of my life”

“An amazing project and I am going to fundraise to bring more US veterans over next year”

Women in Defence Inquiry – a story of corporate-level ‘gas-lighting.’

I wanted to share my experience of being one of the instigators of the UK MOD’s ‘military #MeToo moment’. and give you a sense of the build up to the Women in Defence Inquiry, currently led by Sarah Atherton MP, and how she worked with the Secretary of State for Defence, to ensure that she could hear the voices of serving personnel as well as veterans (lifting a long-term gagging order on service personnel speaking to parliament officially).

Over 4000 service women and some families submitted stories during December 2020. A steady stream then submitted throughout January, with the review extended until February 2021. Many veterans’ charities also submitted case-stories of the thousands who came to them. One of those charities was Forward Assist.

Over 8 months, I have listened to stories of serving women being raped, drugged, assaulted, abused in training, held back in careers, ignored as veterans, given ill-fitting equipment (and the cold shoulder if they were first into a previously male-only post).  This has been a tough ‘ask’ - to summarise this level of suffering, as well as recommend solutions on how to address such low standards of care in the armed forces. It is not only women who suffer – this is a story of abuse of power and includes stories of toxic women in leadership positions – and men and ethnic minorities as victims as well as perpetrators.

What did this look like in numbers?

163 individuals contacted me. Most were uniformed, but some were non-uniformed staff and family members. At least 33 were still serving (some withheld details), with a further 63 having left in the last 5 years. 3 were parents of serving women, 5 were civil servants, working in defence.  130 were from the Army; 31 were RAF and 2 were RN – this was partly because my call out for stories mentioned army only. The range of ranks was difficult to assess - issues were the same for officers and other ranks with some nuances: sexual favours for promotion or for turning a blind eye to minor indiscretions were only reported by other ranks and class discrimination for promotion and postings were more prevalent in officers.

Over 75% did make complaints and all of those felt ‘fobbed off’, either through being told they misunderstood the incident or coercion to withdraw their complaint or change details. This is ‘gas-lighting’ at a corporate level. Nearly all had been affected by gender-negative incidents during their careers, but most handled it - usually without support from leadership. Only 1 individual contacted me to say she had never experienced adverse incidents and wanted her voice to be heard that she felt there were no issues. Several senior officers did contact me and attempt to influence my future media engagements, to paint a more positive military picture (but more serving officers contacted me to say it was about time this issue was addressed).

The comments on suffering were NOT about the crime or level of poor behaviours – most women in defence are robust and accept the military environment as emotionally and physically tough. The greatest suffering came from the inability to be heard when something went wrong – nearly every one of those 163 described how witnesses had turned a blind eye, or their leaders had coerced them to withdraw a complaint – and how they were punished rather than the perpetrators – through leaking of their allegations to the wider military unit or being shunned for speaking out.  

The UK MOD is the only public body allowed to investigate and adjudicate on what is a wrong and who should be held accountable. And it is clear from the common themes of these stories that the MOD is abusing this power for its own ends. That is the real ‘wrong’ – that the UK MOD treats its people as disposable when they are at their most vulnerable.

The MOD leadership & policy makers should hang their head in shame, as I have on their behalf.

At the end of this inquiry, defence ministers will also be aware of the extent and tactics of the MOD. I hope that this time, some good will come from the bravery of these women in coming forward.

Diane Allen joined the Army when she was a teenager and was one of the first women to attend Sandhurst in the 1980s. She served in the regulars, in Northern Ireland and Germany, before a switch to the reserves, finally leaving in January 2020, as a Lieutenant-Colonel. She now lives in Gloucestershire, with her partner, when they are not away adventuring.

Guest Blog by Veteran & Author Diane Allen OBE

See: https://www.forewarned.uk/

The Transition Process .. Is The Weakest Link

Every year, thousands of people leave the Armed Forces and return to live and work in the civilian community. For many the transition is seamless, yet for a significant number the journey is made difficult by an inability to adjust and re-establish themselves and settle back into in the community. These adjustment issues may lead to relationship difficulties, alcohol and drug misuse, homelessness, involvement with the Criminal Justice System, and for those suffering from diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health problems , self imposed isolation, self harm or suicide. An increasing number may find themselves marginalised and disenfranchised from main stream services and support simply because they have difficulty asking for help.

The civilian community and indeed many service providers continue to have difficulty understanding the needs of former service personnel. Part of the problem lies in the misconception that the Armed Forces continue to provide holistic support for its members after they have left the services and that their needs are completely unique and different to that of the general population.

There is also a misconception that everyone who leaves the forces has a sound knowledge base of what is available, unfortunately this is not true and even if they did many would not ask for charity. Re-unions and Regimental dinners facilitate the maintenance of lasting friendships and facilitate sociability yet many choose to avoid such get togethers preferring to focus their efforts on reinventing themselves via a new career on Civvy Street. Yet, Civvy Street can be a lonely place simply because the relationship with serving friends and colleagues may fundamentally change after they leave simply because they live for all intents and purposes in very different worlds.

The reality is, that there are a myriad of complex transitional glitches to contend with. Those serving 22 years plus may never of had an job interview which places them at a disadvantage to others seeking employment. Adjustment and the a loss of identity when transitioning into the civilian community should not be underestimated. However, many successfully re-engage with the civilian community via their enrolment on leadership/managerial courses in facilitated by Universities or Colleges of higher education. Yet, those that are medically discharged must cope with the restrictions their disability/impairment has on future employment opportunities and relationships whilst coming to terms with a change in circumstances that was not expected and lack the emotional resilience to do so.

It would appear that there is growing evidence to suggest that a significant number, perhaps as many as 30% end up in a life categorized by them as failure and disappointment. Many are recruited into the Armed Forces from areas of multiple deprivation and join the Armed Forces as a way to escape poverty and  improve limited life chances, for early service leavers failing to make a career in the military is said to be viewed negatively by significant others and for many disenfranchised youths its viewed as the last chance saloon. That said, for thousands its probably the best decision they ever made. A military career can be life changing for so many. Its the transition back to civilian life that so many find difficult and where resources should be targeted. We shouldn’t let veterans become homeless and left begging for change’ . Leaving the military technically homeless is in many ways as bad as being physically homeless as the struggle to get established is both arduous and difficult and can take years. Sadly many individuals return to the civilian community ill prepared for civilian life and subsequently end up ’Sofa surfing’ or sleeping rough. Many report being directed to the homeless sector and told by well meaning housing workers that the only available housing on offer is within the temporary accommodation sector, which more often than not are multi-occupancy dwellings. I have met many former soldiers who report that they prefer living on the streets to living in a homeless shelter. As one veteran said,

 ‘you go in clean, but come out with a drug habit, in a box or in handcuffs .’

In my view, multiple occupancy dwellings in the homeless sector are the last place a veteran should be placed. The hidden population that are homeless veterans, has no political voice and has no vehicle to express or channel any dissatisfaction with the services currently on offer. The current system is a ‘one size fits all’ it is only in recent years that Veteran centric accommodation projects have appeared but its a post code lottery if you have one in your area. The projects do a great job supporting homeless veterans but its when they have to move out and live independently that the real problems start. Many are in a revolving door situation and its Government that should provide effective support and funding to meet the distinct and unique needs of veterans. Government has a duty of care to look after those that have served and a moral responsibility to pick up the tab for veteran care and not leave it to the charity sector.

The complexity of the issues facing former serving personnel returning to live in the civilian world is only going to increase as pressures are placed on all services post Covid 19 . The answer to this current and ongoing problem will come from, and be driven by the small service charity sector. They understand the issues their comrade’s face when they slip through the net and fail to engage with mainstream services and they also know why it happens and how to re-engage them when it does. Government and the UK Department for Veteran Affairs need to consult with those at the pointy end if they want to know what’s really going on! In our experience, if the support is given at the right time, in the right place by the right people then it is accepted without prejudice. Lets not forget that the civilian communities greatest asset is its former military community.

Tony Wright CEO

Learning From America ...

My career, working with Veterans who have multiple complex needs started in 2017, with a specific focus on developing a specialist and holistic service to meet the needs of women who served in the military.

At the time of commencing my employment with Forward Assist, the organisation was in the process of developing their services which meant I was able to take a hands on, strategic approach to build upon pre-existing service provision. Before starting in my role as the ‘Salute Her UK’ women veterans lead, I had held many positions within a variety of mental health trusts, voluntary sector organisations and private practice. I worked with individuals, suffering from addictions, mental health difficulties, including bipolar disorder, personality disorder or depression, and with those in acute crisis at risk from self-harm or ending their life. I specialised in working with those who were most at risk, using a ‘think family’ model of engagement. So, working with those who had suffered trauma was no stranger to me. However, I would come to learn that the sexual trauma experienced by women in the military and the life long impact such trauma had on their lives as veterans was both shocking and and appalling. I thought I’d seen it all. How wrong I was!

I have learned so much from the founder of Forward Assist, Tony Wright about the many unique challenges that Women Veterans face, the fact they are a hidden invisible population was a revelation to me and I had never considered that they would simultaneously be struggling and suffering from a range of mental health problems as a result of traumatic experiences.

There is virtually no research in the UK that looks into the needs of women veterans, past and present. The reality is that once military service is complete, women personnel embark on a long, lonely , arduous journey back to civilian life, a journey fraught with difficulties.  Women are the fastest growing cohort within the armed forces and I would argue that this transition can be more traumatic than that of their male counterparts.

Given there wasn’t a template to work from or research to reference, I carried out a ethnographic data analysis and mapping exercise and was both surprised and shocked to find so many women veterans struggling with adjustment issues and poor mental and physical health problems. There is lots of research in the USA that suggests that women feel uncomfortable in male-dominated veteran environments, and that they prefer to access support and treatment that is gender specific and sensitive to the needs of women.

I was given the opportunity by our CEO along with a women veteran volunteering with Salute Her, to travel to America in 2019 to research and learn everything I could about the needs of Women Veterans. I have brought back this knowledge and examples of good practice and aim to raise awareness of the currently unmet needs of women veterans so that we can all take a collective responsibility to improve services to women in the United Kingdom.

My trip involved visiting several women centric organisations, including meetings at the Department of Veterans Affairs, where I met Andrea Goldstein - senior policy advisor for the Women Veterans Task Force. Andrea talked openly about her experience as a woman who served in the Navy. While serving as a troop commander in Special Operations Forces, Andrea was instrumental in developing best practices to integrate women into previously all-male teams.  Her work includes cross-sector collaboration to facilitate organisational culture change from within, and a focus on incorporating a gender perspective into policy, plans, and operations in the defence and security sector. Andrea visited the UK a few months later and visited Forward Assist to hear about our work and kindly facilitated the opening night of the Salute Her Women Veterans Art Exhibition at Newcastle University.

Carrie Ann Alford, Director of Policy & Planning, Virginia Department of Veterans Services facilitated numerous visits to grassroots services that supported women and their families after service. I wanted to meet with those who had strategic insight and that had built a service from the beginning so I could learn about the challenges they faced and how to overcome them. It was also important to meet other mental health therapists who could speak the same professional language.

Running like a gold thread, through all the organisations I visited was the fact that they all worked in collaboration with each other, they all supported each other and shared resources. This is in direct contrast to my experience in the UK where it appears organisations compete for funding, recognition and sometimes veterans!

Evidence shows that collaborative working is essential for good treatment outcomes, both clinical and holistic. If the needs of all Veterans are to be met in an effective, sustainable way, organisations in the UK need to find a way that they can work together collaboratively.

The Department of Women Veterans provide community-based trauma centres specifically for women veterans. The centres provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including readjustment and transitional therapy.  Individual, group, marriage and family therapy sessions are available and what excited me the most was to see the use of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

In UK, DBT is typically used with those who have a diagnosis of Personality Disorder, so it was refreshing to see it adapted for use within military trauma settings .  What impressed me most was the vast array of services that what were dedicated to women’s health care needs, such as gynaecology and maternity alongside multi disciplinary mental health services and gender specific inpatient units. The VA also use electronic health records to closely track physical health care including breast and reproductive care in order to produce better health care outcomes for women.   All VA staff use a ‘care coordination’ model of care. Many Veterans in both the UK and USA present with multiple complex needs so I would argue that we should adopt this model. The principles and practicalities of care coordination should be taught and adapted for use in the United Kingdom by all services including the voluntary sector.

I was delighted to meet with two trauma therapists and two Social Workers from the Virginia Department of Veterans Services and visited one of the specialist centres for Women Veterans. During my visit they presented the different aspects of their work and explained their roles in relation to the various programs they deliver. In the VA, social workers support trained mental health therapists in all patient care areas. Unlike, the UK social workers are responsible for ensuring continuity of care through the admission, treatment, and discharge processes of military veterans.

The trip was also educational, and I was deeply moved when we visited The Women's Military Memorial Centre at Arlington Cemetery. The sheer size of Arlington Cemetery took my breath away. We were honoured to visit the part of the cemetery that is dedicated to women who have served in the military and learn that there is a place to learn about the extraordinary servicewomen who have stepped forward to defend America. For more than 30 years, the Memorial has been permanently documenting military women’s experiences and their impact on American, military and women’s history.  If you get the chance do visit.

Working Together

Forward Assist and Salute Her work in partnership with Boulder Crest Retreat and have funded two women veterans from the UK to take part in their retreat programme. Boulder Crest Retreat is a not for profit organisation that offers transformative retreats for combat veterans and their families. The Warrior PATHH programme is a lifelong, posttraumatic growth-based training programme. The week long training consists of intensive workshops, that is then followed up by 18 months of connection and training from both peers and psychologists via the online PATHH platform. Boulder Crest Retreat is based in Virginia and Arizona and no expense has been spared. Veterans stay in beautiful, luxurious log cabins and eat nutritious meals, yoga , exercise and meditation to boost wellness. The UK veterans that have accessed this programme describe it as a life transforming experience.

I have to say that wherever I went in America I met the most warm hearted friendly and helpful people, the trip was amazing and insightful. As a therapist I am used to reflective practice and do so daily, and as my trip came to an end I was grateful I was able to learn from so many, especially the strong women who had took it upon themselves to develop much needed services. I remain both humbled and inspired.

In my experience many male professionals in the UK find it difficult, or have a resistance, to identifying the unique impact trauma has on women. The fact that women veterans are a hidden, marginalised and frequently ignored forgotten population creates real difficulties for practitioners and especially women who report feeling not valued and their military service doesn’t seem to matter.

This has to change and the UK Government should accept responsibility and provide and contribute to the development of specialised gender specific, trauma informed, mental health services. Organisations need to come together and assist in the design of gender specific services for women veterans and help identify hidden women veterans living in the community, whilst proactively targeting them with information on specialist support services, entitlements, employment opportunities, health information and benefits.

We all have a collective, moral responsibility to ensure that trauma in women, especially Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is acknowledged and screened for to ensure that women get the service they need at the time they need it most.

Paula Edwards Salute Her Project Lead

The Ethical Dilemmas of Working With Those That Self Harm.

What is self-harm? :

 “Self-harm is when you hurt yourself as a way of dealing with very difficult feelings, old memories, or overwhelming situations and experiences. The ways you hurt yourself can be physical, such as cutting yourself. They can also be less obvious, such as putting yourself in risky situations, or not looking after your own physical or emotional needs’” (MIND)

Self harming behaviour is a coping method used by some people as a way to help them manage intense and painful emotions. The need to purposely inflict physical harm on themselves, for example cutting, can provoke confusion, anxiety and concern for all those involved in delivering care and support. Just talking about self harm can cause intense feelings and emotions and many end up questioning their own morals, values and beliefs on the matter.

Self harming behaviours can cause deep feelings of disgust and unease for the observer and whilst understandable, such responses are counterproductive. Simply because they fail to provide any sort of solution for people who self-harm and such judgemental views can alienate and stigmatise. The majority of people who self harm do so in private and secretly.

A judgemental attitude can lead to professionals projecting their own anxieties and escalating responses which do nothing to address the underlying causes of this misunderstood and complex coping mechanism.  We need to start thinking about self-harm in a more rational way that takes in to account the perspectives of person who injure themselves rather than simply trying to stop their behaviour or overreacting to what are essentially none life threatening self inflicted injuries.

Self-harm doesn’t have age restrictions, research has shown that children as young as five years old and elderly people in their nineties can and do use self harming behaviours as a way of coping and expressing difficult emotions. More women seek help for self-harm than men – however, research suggests that men are equally likely to hurt themselves as well as face more cultural barriers when asking for help. The roots of self-harming behaviour are often found in Adverse Childhood Experiences including physical, verbal, sexual abuse and neglect . Or , it may be a nurtured maladaptive coping strategy, strengthened and developed over time to help some cope with being an emotional hostage to trauma they cannot articulate. Whatever the reason, it rarely has anything to to do with wanting to die, contrary to belief most people who self-harm, do so to preserve life. 

“In case you didn't know, dead people don't bleed. If you can bleed, see it, feel it, then you know you're alive. It's irrefutable, undeniable proof. Sometimes I just need a little reminder.”

Mental health issues can affect anyone, at any time, and military service personnel are no different.

Research suggests that some veterans are at an increased risk of self-harm, the risk reduces steadily the longer someone serves but I think the biggest risk factors come from pre-service life experiences coupled with adjustment and assimilation difficulties. after service.

During basic service recruits are indoctrinated to believe that they are ‘the best’ and in many ways better than their civilian counterparts. This re-programmed concept of self is both functional and necessary during military service. It takes on average just three months to strip military members of their civilian identity and replace it with a military mindset that reflects military culture and life. However, this causes significant adjustment problems when they return to civilian life. The loss of identity, structure and team membership can result in deep feelings of alienation and disconnection when returning to a fast-moving world where thousands of people are competing for both jobs and security . The reality is most people end up doing nothing more than trying to survive. To not spend the same time and effort to reverse the process at the end of a servicemember's time in uniform is neglectful.

The long term consequence of not adopting a reverse culture training programme can result in many feeling that they are no longer in a place that they recognise as home, and consequently become isolated lonely and depressed. This can lead to self-harm, confusion anxiety and a sense of hopelessness.

There are over a hundred military service charities in UK that support the well- being of veterans and their families. There are also over three hundred specialist mental health/suicide and self harm organisations.  I think we are now at the point where there is so much replication and duplication in this sector that it has become damaging and toxic.

If I feel this way, how on earth do Veterans feel? Something isn’t right and it isn’t working. An article printed in the Guardian stated 70% of the public think there are too many charities doing similar work and competing with each other. Sadly, it would appear to be true , we recently picked up a referral who had twenty two different agencies working with him and none of them were in contact with each other.

Care planning and care coordination is the way forward but in a sector where everyone is fishing in the same pool and competing for funding, we are a long way off the delivery of needs led, coordinated specialist support where the veteran is at the centre, for those that self harm the need is acute.

 Paula Edwards

Mental Health Therapist

Salute Her Women Veterans Project.

Help for Zeros

Help for Zeros

The Armed Forces Covenant

According to the MOD, ‘the Armed Forces Covenant sets out the relationship between the Nation, the State and the Armed Forces. It recognises that the whole nation has a moral obligation to members of the Armed Forces and their families, and it establishes how they should expect to be treated. It exists to redress the disadvantages that the Armed Forces community faces in comparison to other citizens, and to recognise sacrifices made. In some cases this will require special consideration, especially for those who have given the most such as the injured and the bereaved. The principle behind the Covenant is that the Armed Forces Community should not face disadvantage because of its military experience. In some cases, such as the sick, injured or bereaved, this means giving special consideration to enable access to public or commercial services that civilians wouldn’t receive. The Covenant covers issues from housing and education to support after Service. It is crucial to the Government that it, and the nation, recognises the unique and immense sacrifices military personnel / veterans have made for their country.

Yet, its a matter of conjecture if those at the highest level across Government are sticking to the promises made in the Covenant.’

“....People facing multiple needs and exclusions are in every community in Britain. They suffer several problems at the same time, have ineffective contact with services, and are living chaotic lives. Each problem exacerbates the other and people easily end up in a downward spiral of mental ill health, drug and alcohol abuse, crime and homelessness. One estimate suggests that there are approximately 60,000 adults in this situation in England at any one time.” The Revolving Doors Agency

Sadly, these include increasing numbers of military veterans.

Question: Is the Nation embracing the Armed Forces Covenant and providing the necessary support for former servicemen and women who experience social exclusion, have multiple ‘unmet’ complex needs and are involved with the Criminal Justice System?

The majority of veterans go on to forge impressive second careers. Those veterans with physical injuries undoubtedly receive very high levels of medical provision and rehabilitation support. Yet, many others suffering mental illness and other psychological issues struggle to cope, become excluded and end up in prison. At a time when members of the military are being upheld as an example of professionalism and national pride and the family promoted as a vital ingredient of a harmonious society, this situation is surely wrong. The impact is profound resulting in massive human and financial costs.

• An estimated 12% of our homeless population are veterans – (Shelter).

• The number of veterans committing suicide is increasing.

• Examples of family breakdown, domestic violence and divorce are increasing.

• Approximately 8% of the prison population are veterans (7,000+), with many others on Probation and Community Supervision Orders (6,000+).

• Disturbingly, many veterans in prison are held in Vulnerable Prisoner Units.

• Annual Prison costs - £45,000 per person, per annum, plus: -
  Cost to Victims, Police, Courts, Health, Social Services, Impact upon Families and Children, Education, Benefit Payments and lack of earned taxable income and NI.

• Total cost of offending – approximately £170,000+ per person, per annum –

• Total cost to the state – Many hundreds of £M’s, plus family / social breakdown. Causes of Crime. In discussing this issue, it is essential to recognise why people become involved in crime, all of which is well researched

• 75% of prison population experience mental health illness.

• A lack of confidence, self-worth, self-esteem, basic and key skills, employment and income.

• Family breakdown.

• Feelings of fear, shame and guilt, particularly relevant to former military personnel.

• Lack of appropriate role models and support.

• Alcohol and drug misuse, primarily as a result of the above.

Those who, after leaving the service become involved in crime, experience most if not all of these problems. Many also suffer experiential flash backs to incidents associated with combat related trauma. Importantly, we need to get away from the mantra that only those who have experienced service life can understand the impact this can have on the individual. The reality is trauma… is trauma… is trauma. The best therapists I have seen are all civilians but experts in their field. Yet, a disconnection with society still exists for many veterans.

“ As far as I am concerned I left the military 15 years ago and I am deep undercover in the civilian community: I dress like them...I act like them but I don’t trust them and have nothing in common with them”

Former SNCO Royal Marine Commando (Following discharge he reported he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and also convicted of a violent offence.)

“ I returned home to live in a North East ‘pit village’ in the late 70’s and have never spoken to anyone, other than you, today, about what I experienced in Northern Ireland. I’ve been married over 40 years and my wife has no idea what’s going on in my head.....I didn’t think you could be lonely when you were married, but trust me you can! She thinks I just ‘go on the occasional bender’ for no reason and she hasn’t made the connection with the news or documentaries on the ‘troubles’. Some days I am still there.... if I had only pulled the trigger things might have been so different”

Former member of the Parachute Regiment SNCO 2010

The Armed Forces Benevolent Organisations work hard to ‘mop up’ the social and economic fall-out and wider needs of what is becoming a significant disenfranchised group of society. The Royal British Legion proudly promotes the fact that it gives out one million pounds worth of financial and welfare support every month. The fact that it has to do this is a sad indictment of the levels of deprivation and need that exists. Add to this the money paid out by Help for Heroes, Combat Stress, SSAFA and the other veteran specific charitable organisations and the true cost of looking after our former service personnel totals billions of pounds.

‘Hero to Zero’ is a much hackneyed term, used by the media on both sides of the Atlantic to describe former servicemen and women that have lost their ‘media’ imposed status as a ‘HERO’.

For those suffering with mental illness, becoming drug and alcohol dependant, homeless or involved with the Criminal Justice System, the tendency is to conveniently forget the sacrifices made and resort to labels such as failure, waster and criminal. Yet, the Military Covenant says ‘it is crucial that it (the Government) and the nation recognise the unique and immense sacrifices military personnel / veterans have made for their country.” Surely this should also include the general well-being of families and those suffering with mental illness. Veterans who fall upon hard times should not be dependent on a mix of ‘means tested’ state and charitable hand outs or subjected to further exclusion.

During my 37 year Social Work career; working in numerous frontline and senior management settings, I have noticed increasing numbers of veterans presenting as homeless or in need of mental health support services, often suffering from diagnosed and undiagnosed mental health problems (anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder and combat related Post Traumatic Stress. Many others are presenting at Accident and Emergency Departments or GP surgeries, Drug and Alcohol substitute prescribing services, recovery centres, Alcohol Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or Cocaine Anonymous meetings and, sadly, in growing numbers, within the Criminal Justice System.

12 years ago, I founded a Community Interest Company (Superseded by Forward Assist in 2013) My aim was to establish a ‘needs led’ service for veterans, designed specifically to establish support for what was a ‘disparate’ and ‘hidden population’ within the Criminal Justice System and other social welfare services. Over the years the numbers awareness and need have increased significantly. Of note, at that time, most of the associated intervention services commissioned by the 12 regional Local Authorities to provide interventions with veterans failed to ask individuals accessing their services if they had served within the Armed Forces. This fundamental omission at first point of contact, the assessment stage or during the writing of a pre-sentence report can lead to a missed opportunity to understand the ‘root cause’ of the multiple complex issues that may exist. A mandatory inclusion in an assessment process would allow all civilian based welfare organisations to assess the level of need and ‘flag up’ the possibility that the presenting behavioural manifestations may or may not be directly related to military service or the transition from it.

Sadly, in too many cases, those that do ask don’t know what to do with veterans after the initial identification. Rather organisations attempt to ‘shoe horn’ veterans into existing provision that is neither appropriate nor relevant to the veteran’s individual needs. Similarly, Veterans are notoriously bad at asking for help and may view survival ‘on the streets’ or when experiencing acute adversity as a continuation of the field exercises or combat missions that they took part in whilst on active service. Couple this with a highly developed sense of pride and a stubborn independence and desire to not to become viewed as a burden on society; it’s not surprising that civilian orientated support services find it difficult to maintain a meaningful relationship with former military personnel.

Many veterans continue to feel a deep sense of dislocation within the civilian community long after discharge, and their ability or indeed inability to re-invent themselves or assimilate back into society is very much dependent upon how they exited the armed forces. In our experience, the reintegration process to civilian life is exacerbated on many different levels dependent upon how an individual left the military. Many are discharged following successful and lengthy periods of service but struggle to find sustainable employment; others are medically or dishonourably discharged following their involvement in unacceptable behaviour or criminal activity. The latter find it extremely difficult to re-establish themselves in the civilian job market or reconnect with family or friends.

The issues facing former service personnel are both multiple and complex and in many cases exacerbated as they make the transition from Military to Civilian and/or Custody to the Community.

“We need to rehabilitate veterans not incarcerate them”

Judge Russell: Buffalo Veterans Court New York USA

Many veterans are in receipt of state benefits with a large percentage claiming Disability Living Allowance as a result of physical injuries that they described were the result of the ‘wear and tear’ during service life. A large number report that they suffer from multiple mental health conditions with having problems maintaining paid employment. Very few report that they had a better job with more status than the one they held whilst serving in the military. At least half of the veterans we work with have direct experience of homelessness at the point of referral, but a larger percentage report being technically homeless on discharge from the military. Many have alcohol and drug related dependency issues and most describe alcohol as ‘Army Medicine’ - they celebrated with it and commiserated with it during times of stress or bereavement and it continues to be a problem long after service life ends. As a result, many have convictions for drink driving offences.

“...a full english breakfast....a six hour period since your last drink... a shit, shower and a shave and we were ready to fly!”

Former Royal Navy Helicopter Pilot

Almost all the veterans involved with our service have had multiple relationships after leaving the services and several had been married three times or more. Divorce was a shared experience and many described themselves as absent parents. The vast majority lived alone or with partners that owned their own homes. A small number that were subject to Community based Court Orders admitted having committed domestic violence. The damaging impact upon children and its associated costs is likely to become apparent in time. Many reported experiencing chronic social exclusion and associated isolation. In many cases it was self imposed following a relationship breakdown and/or the result of negative experiences of trying to engage with civilian based support services that did not understand them. Others said that they had no idea what services were available from the Royal British Legion, Combat Stress, and SSAFA.

A significant number of veterans accessing our service reported that they felt that they did not have transferable skills and many reported that they had no idea how to write a CV, send an email or set up a direct debit. A large number admit having poor literacy and numeracy skills and others admit that they could not cook and had no understanding of Government recommended guidelines in relation to calorific intake, nutrition or the negative effects of excessive alcohol misuse, and the dual use of prescribed/illicit street drugs.

“Since leaving the mob two years ago I have lived on ‘pot noodle sandwiches’ and take-away food”

Iraq /Afghanistan: Veteran

Many veterans report that they had financial difficulties and unpaid debt. Most need advice information and guidance in relation to Military pensions, Criminal law, and Family law, Prison law, Housing law and Mental Health law.

Referrals from GP’s CPN’s and other mental health support workers including Combat Stress account for nearly a third of the case load. Despite the evidence of the effectiveness of interventions, very few organisations currently contribute financially to the services offered. Nearly a third of all referrals are ‘self referrals’ and result from ‘word of mouth’ recommendations from group members, family members or partner organisations. The North East is allegedly the largest recruitment area for HM Armed Forces. The low numbers for the RAF, Royal Navy and Royal Marines can be attributed to the national geographical spread of the respective operational and strategic headquarters. Nonetheless, it is worrying to note how many former Army personnel end up with ‘unmet’ multiple and complex needs.

“When I left the Army after 18 years service.... it was pack your kit..... I’m escorting you to the gate...have a nice life”

Infantry Soldier diagnosed with PTSD: Discharged as ‘Services No Longer required’ after failing Mandatory Drugs Test X2

Whilst we accept that more research needs to be carried out to establish a direct link with combat operational experience and poor social outcomes, it is clear that there is a correlation between self reported problems that are associated with transition, assimilation, adjustment and identity following service life. Unresolved issues relating to bereavement, guilt, shame, addiction and anxiety when coupled with episodic bouts of insomnia and loneliness all impact negatively upon the ability of many veterans to remain in a permanent employment position or comply with community based Court Orders. This is particularly relevant if the issues are socioeconomic/psychological or physical in nature and ignored. Multiple and complex needs require wide-ranging and far-reaching sustained interventions.

These difficulties can be unique to an individual and may need to be ‘unpacked’ separately or collectively in unison with an empathetic mentor or caseworker. Short sighted and ‘top down’ solutions that look for ‘quick fix’ results via brief therapeutic interventions or adopt a ‘refer on’ approach to problem solving will invariably result in failure and continuing long term damage to psychological wellbeing. Similarly, it is unrealistic to expect a small number of incongruent and financially competing Public and Private Sector organisations and Armed Forces Charities to be able to understand or meet the needs of those hero’s reclassified as ‘zeros’. In all walks of life prejudice and discrimination exist and it is a sad fact that those former service men and women that end up in the Criminal Justice System and/or who live chaotic lives, continue to be viewed as ‘unworthy’ by those tasked with the responsibility of supporting them.

The introduction and implementation of the Armed Forces Covenant and the locally driven Armed Forces Forums will hopefully help to ensure organisations ‘sit at the same table’ and look at how the needs of veterans can be collectively met. That said, currently there appears to be a reluctance to share good working practices, information or planned initiatives. In practice the referral of veterans to other organisations within the network is limited. This reticence is often driven by individual egos, institutionalised and organisational cultures and/or perceived competiveness in regard to funding and reputation.

It is essential that any process of localised ‘grass roots’ qualitative and quantitative statistical data be collected, shared and acted upon. This requires meaningful and respectful partnerships where organisations work closely with one another, acting selflessly in the interest of the ‘greater good’ and individual veterans. Specially designed service delivery models with integrated pathways, specialised support and targeted funding would significantly improve the engagement of marginalised veterans and their families, thus reducing the social isolation, the risk of offending and the massive associated costs. If we really care about veteran offenders then we need to collectively work together to help them change their lives for the better. Similarly, the many organisations that now purport to work with veterans involved with the CJS should reflect upon that statement and adjust their own behaviour and responses to ensure that service delivery is both collaborative and in the best interest of the veteran and not that of their organisation.

Tony Wright CEO Forward Assist

The 2021 Mental Health Tsunami...

I think everyone can agree 2020 was just weird! For the first time in my life, and I guess many others every appointment and arrangement both business and private was cancelled or put on permanent hold.

We decided to ‘shut up shop’ as it were in early March 2020 ,a week before the country were told to go home, self isolate and work from home. Our contingency plan was simple; cease all face to face interventions and go digital. Its been an interesting transition and for us, one we couldn’t have envisaged without actually been forced to think creatively. We thought the lockdown would exacerbate existing problems such as isolation and loneliness, and for those those suffering from depression we expected an influx of self harming behaviours. Interestingly, it never actually panned out like that, as those we had regular virtual contact with actually enjoyed the immediacy of a ‘one to one’ virtual connection whilst sat in the comfort of their own home. Of course, there were those that needed a little practical help with food parcels and delivery of prescriptions etc but all of those issues were very quickly addressed through multiple partnerships and the willingness of many to work together for the first time. Such relationships have endured and so far we haven’t had a crisis we couldn’t address collectively, and this is simply because everyone is just that little bit more flexible empathetic and understanding. Yet more importantly, there is a willingness across all services to make themselves available to help out those in need. That is the power of community! That isn’t to say that uncertainty about the future isn’t a problem… it is! Lockdown 3 will test the mettle of all, and the worry is frontline workers will become exhausted either before vaccination or very soon after. Burn out will happen. Mental Health counsellors will in the coming months be needed more than ever with an estimated 13 million people across the country in desperate need of specialist support and advice. The reality is, there just isn’t enough to go around so people will have to wait even longer for ‘needs led’ person centred support, which will cause significant problems in the long run.

We all know that in the absence of talking therapies people either self medicate or are medicated by the state, both routes create problems for both the individual and society. In the coming months the resilience of the great British public will be tested further and communities will have to find ways to support each other. The crisis has shone a spotlight on the really important things in life and for many the loss of personal freedom and employment will weigh heavy on society and individuals alike for years to come. National debt has rocketed in the last 10 months and its clear things are going to get a lot worse before they get better. However, the perennial question of who nurtures the nurturers will need to be factored into any sustainable intervention. If we lose sight of the crucial contribution of low paid frontline workers, volunteers ,carers, medicos, and community leaders we are in trouble. Asset Based Community Development will help us build on the assets that are found in the community and mobilises individuals, associations, and institutions to come together to realise and develop their strengths. Community Self help is the way forward and we all need to have a say in how ‘change’ in the next ten years will impact our lives…so if you can, be of service to others and get political. The time has come to look to the words of JFK and …

"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

Good Luck… we are all in this together.

Tony Wright CEO

Ten Years Since the Launch of Armed Forces Community Covenant.

This year is the 10th anniversary of the introduction of Armed Forces Community Covenant which was launched in 2011. Since that time every local authority in the UK has signed ‘ a community covenant partnership’ with their local Armed Forces Community. Many local authorities introduced the role of Armed Forces Champion. The Ministry of Defence Guidance, Armed Forces Covenant for communities guidance states:

“The role of a ‘champion’ is often to make sure that the local authority achieves its commitments to the armed forces community and any blockages are resolved.”

Since then we have also witnessed the formation of the UK Office for Veterans Affairs in 2019 whose raison d'etre is;

“Lead UK Government efforts to make sure the United Kingdom is the best place to be a veteran anywhere in the world, helping the nation fulfil its lifelong duty to those who have served in the Armed Forces”.

Yet, there is considerable disconnect between the rhetoric and the reality. There are thousands of grass roots veteran centric, charities, CIC’s, unincorporated community groups and individuals who support military veterans 365 days of the year. Yet, it sometimes feels that its ‘open season’ on small charities as their contribution is frequently dismissed, ignored or discredited.

The C-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns are a perfect example of how the wider community came to the aid of isolated lonely veterans and families , some delivering Christmas Dinners to those in need on Christmas Day. Sadly, these outstanding examples of community cohesion and endeavour go unnoticed and remain unrecognised by the very people who are supposed to be representing and championing the needs of the community.

Similarly, the Government continue to consult with the larger service charities who at times are unaware of issues on the ground and/or unable to understand the grass roots need of those they claim to represent. There is little if any recognition given to those whose contribution is voluntary, in fact there are looked down upon by many in the sector. Yet, where would we be without them?

We would be a very wealthy charity if I had a pound for every time I heard the well hackneyed lament that there are too many charities in the service sector or that any organisation working with veterans must be accredited in keeping with an ‘Ofsted’ style inspection and registration system. Yet, the vast majority of those suggesting such a move, have no professional qualifications in the Health and Social Care sector.

Armed Forces Champions come and go, so its almost impossible to build a long term working relationship with one particular individual , others don’t come from an Armed Forces background and some of those that do, work or volunteer for larger military charities with the potential that the needs of their employer or subconscious bias come before those of the community they represent. This leads to mistrust, it is divisive nature and certainly not in the interest of those we seek to serve …Veterans!

Several of my associates across the country have described the bi-annual forums as nothing more than ‘taking shops’ with no direction or cohesive strategy to work collectively or stop the never ending duplication of services, which if not managed properly, causes confusion for those seeking help and support. Others argue that at best, they signpost veterans to support … a start and better than it used to be, but an irresponsible act if there is no follow up on progress made or if the veteran in question doesn’t actually engage with the service provider. Navigating government bureaucracy is at best confusing, but amidst a worldwide pandemic, its almost impossible.

When life eventually returns to the new normal many veterans will feel angry, disillusioned, unsupported and ignored. So we should all expect a tsunami of complaints and requests for mental health support in the coming months and years. Not connecting to a society that promises so much help will lead many into self imposed isolation, loneliness , marginalisation, and self harming behaviours. Lets remember there is so much more to life than getting a job and getting somewhere to live, albeit its a starting point, but not the ‘be all and end all’ Its at that point the work really begins as veterans struggle to adjust to an alien civilian world with all its capricious vagaries.

In the anticipated economic downturn getting a job may not be an option. Homelessness, incarceration, domestic violence, addiction, suicide, and poor mental health may become bigger problems than they already are. Yet, I haven’t seen any evidence that the powers that be, are doing anything all to put in place a strategy to address the anticipated need for a significant uplift in, personalised. practical and mental health support for veterans and their families.

In the absence of direction from the centre, this is the perfect time to reintroduce and adapt the guiding principles of Asset Based Community Development & The Big Society. See: https://vimeo.com/15218724

This time we need to promote citizenship which fosters Post Traumatic Growth by allowing veterans to be of service to others. Now is the time to embrace the healing powers of ‘Associational Life’ and tap into the support from the plethora of individuals with ‘lived experience’, community support groups and informal networks already in existence.

(Thanks to Cormac Russell for permission to use his infographic)

Tony Wright CEO Forward Assist

Saints And Sinners: UK Veterans in The Criminal Justice System

Mental Illness Is Not A Disease.

In the last 100 years, Psychiatry has made significant advances, gone are the days when recovery from a psychiatric disorder was reliant on the draining of blood from Galen’s Four Humours (Greek physician, AD 129 – 216)  Yet how far have we really come in understanding Mental Health and what does recovery looks like?

It is not surprising that having ‘mental health’ problem carries with it a great deal of stigma as the the early response and treatment involved sending individuals to institutions (asylums) for so called treatment and never letting them out!

Throughout our lives we have probably all been guilty of using slang terms to describe those who have a mental illness. Children are taught to view people as either ‘normal’  or ‘abnormal’ based upon the behaviour they could see, and how the person fitted into or didn’t fit into their communities.  Using labels like, ‘schizo’, ‘crazy’ or other clinically diagnostic labels like ‘ Personality Disorder’  ‘ Post Traumatic Stress Disorder’ or Anxiety can trap suffers into thinking that they have ‘something’ wrong with them or worse, that this ‘something’ means they are broken and defective.

Labels are overly used in psychiatry and it does not sit well with me. In my experience it can give some people licence to behave badly,  ‘it’s not MY fault I’m sick’.  Even the term ‘mental illness’ or ‘mental health’ has negative connotations implying that there is a right and wrong way to be.

Psychiatry is often based on a chemical imbalance theory or uses a medical model to diagnose and inevitably treat mental illness. Often taking into consideration genetics, patterns of behaviour and the presentation of clinical symptoms. This model of  treatment loses sight of and strips away those personal life experiences that influence all behaviour be that good or bad. People forget that reacting to trauma and the associated stressors is perfectly normal.

This level of misunderstanding can often lead professionals down a rabbit hole,  if the clients  presenting issues are not understood the fall back position is to rely on the trusty medical model. Creating a false sense of hope for the patient and the family. Sometimes making them believe that medication is the only way to manage mental illness and when the ‘magic pill’ outcome fails , trust and hope is often destroyed.

In my experience working with Veterans is no different. Returning to civilian life after serving in the military is a difficult challenge that thousands of Veterans must face. For some, this will necessitate that they will need to learn how to manage both physical and psychological wounds.

Many of the Veterans  we work with often identify with feeling that life is harder for them to manage than most. Yet, what if a large part of the problem didn’t have anything to do with mental illness or impositions faced during transition?  What if it had more to do with a lack of community connection, boredom, loneliness and not understanding how to manage difficult thoughts and feelings ?

For serving military personnel time is structured with numerous tasks to complete, service personnel are always busy and rarely on their own. There isn’t enough time to think or feel, in fact it is actively discouraged.

In the civilian world time is a Veterans enemy.  Suddenly they are thrown into a world where employers expect employees to work autonomously even when they are part of team. Colleagues go  home to their families, the landscape is constantly changing and expects constant adaptation.  There is no protective military cocoon.

Medicalising veterans issues doesn’t help anyone. I have a growing sense of unease that instead of helping Veterans we are trapping them in state of unwellness.

Don’t get me wrong, some Veterans will need medication to help them with their problems and traditional psychiatry can and will help.

Yet, we have found the adoption of a psychosocial model to support veterans  gain control over their individual and social environment results in far more  positive and sustainable outcomes.

Teaching Veterans how to ask for help, coping skills, resilience, problem solving, self regulation, the importance diet and nutrition and the challenges that they are likely to face during a life lived well. For example, relationship breakdown, loneliness, unemployment and the impact of growing old disgracefully, not only empowers Veterans, it also provides them with individual tools that allow them to face and solve problems as well build resilience to deal with life’s stressors.

Psychiatrist, Professor Sir Simon Wessely, was probably right when he said,’ his heart sank every time there was a mental health awareness week’ simply because;

“ We don’t need more people to be aware. We can’t deal with the ones who are already aware”

 In summary, lets look at different ways to support veterans, especially ones that don’t label them or stigmatise.

 Paula Edwards

Salute Her Project Lead & Mental Health Therapist.

'Invisible Veterans': Women Veterans In The UK Criminal Justice System

Forward Assist recognise that women veterans are a hidden, marginalised, frequently ignored & forgotten population. We are actively campaigning for equitable mental health support services & post service employment opportunities. Find out more: https://www.forward-assist.com/salute-her

Forward Assist is a registered charity (Charity Number 1150408) based in the North East of England and led by Chief Executive and Founder Tony Wright, a Qualified & Registered Social Worker, former Probation Officer and Government Advisor with over 30 years’ senior managerial experience of working in a variety of Social Work and Criminal Justice settings. Forward Assist provide support and guidance to former servicemen and women that experience difficulties in adjusting to a new life as a civilian. Forward Assist offer inter-generational support to both male & female veterans and their families. Our clientele is aged between 18-97 years of age and come from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds. Forward Assist has specialist expertise in working with unemployed veterans and those with direct experience of homelessness, involvement with the Criminal Justice System, family breakdown and/or chronic social exclusion. We know that many of the Veterans we engage with have had difficulties accessing support in relation to, mental health and/or service related mental health issues or injuries. Our specialist support workers and therapists assist veterans to access specialist services, navigate the welfare system and claim benefits to which they are entitled.

A large percentage of our group membership is socially isolated or disenfranchised from mainstream services. In response we use ‘Community Benefit’ projects to give our military veterans a sense of purpose, direction and a sense of belonging. These projects give military veterans an opportunity to utilize their transferable organizational & leadership skills. Sport and physical activity plays a big part in our service delivery and we have had some outstanding outcomes for both able-bodied & disabled veterans because of our unique and innovative interventions. Forward Assist is recognised as being at the cutting edge ‘best practice’ and has a comprehensive understanding of the key issues facing those making the transition from Soldier to Citizen. The veterans we work with, help us understand where the gaps in service provision are and we have been able to design an organization that is 'needs led' and not service led. As a charitable organization, we play a critical role in providing support to individuals that have multiple complex issues that can sometimes overwhelm mainstream service providers.

Women Veterans

 Whilst the majority of veterans accessing the services of Forward Assist are male we are acutely aware that women Veterans remain a somewhat hidden population in the UK with similar but very distinct support needs. We now have a gender specific women veteran service called Salute Her UK who carry a caseload comprising of over 400 women veterans. Our gender specific consultation groups, political campaign team and research collaborative give us a unique insight to the issues impacting on women during and after military service.

 Initially, online discussions enabled us to explore barriers to engagement and give us greater understanding of what their needs were.

The women we spoke to disclosed that they felt uncomfortable telling people that they had served in the military and felt that all services where geared to men’s transition rather than women’s.

In 2011 Tony Wright CEO, was awarded funding from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and travelled to the USA to research services for military veterans with multiple complex needs and discovered that women veterans were over represented in both the homeless and Criminal Justice System.

On 1st April 2016 Forward Assist were awarded funding by the then Northumbria Police & Crime Commissioner, Dame Vera Baird to explore how many Women veterans were involved with the Criminal Justice System in the North East of England.

At that time, our women veterans lead organised a meeting with the Governor at HMP Low Newton in Durham, to discuss the aim of our PCC funded research project. During the course of the meeting he advised that out of 444 prisoners that were incarcerated at that time only five female inmates had been identified as veterans within the last 3 years and unfortunately, none of those were currently serving a prison sentence at his establishment. We asked about the nature of their offending and these included animal cruelty, domestic abuse and drugs & alcohol offences. It was also noted that women veterans had to identify themselves as veterans rather than the prison having this on record at point of entry into the Prison system. It is highly possible that many more women veterans serving custodial sentences have chosen not to disclose their military past and slipped through the net.

Similarly, back in 2016 a meeting was arranged with the then Deputy Chief Executive at Northumbria Community Rehabilitation Company and he was unable to identify any female veterans that were subject to Community Rehabilitation Orders. This was probably more to do with services not recognising women as belonging to the CJS Veteran cohort. More recently, it is estimated that up to 1% of all incarcerated women are veterans.

 In June 2016 Tony Wright CEO Forward Assist was invited to take part in the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) led All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) On Social Work. (An inquiry into Adult Mental Health Services in England). (Published in September 2016)

Led by Emma Lewell-Buck MP, we were able to highlight the lack of specialist mental health services available to women veterans in the UK.

 Forward Assist was delighted to see that the needs of Female veterans were incorporated into the recommendations.

 The issue of specific occupationally-related mental health risks was an area flagged in the inquiry. Army veterans are one occupational group that is historically and currently under-served by our mental health services. Almost three million British Army veterans live and work in the UK with an estimated three to five thousand re-entering civilian life each year. Due to the trauma that may arise from serving in the military, many former service personnel will be experiencing mental distress to a lesser or greater degree. Their mental health needs can often have significant social and financial dimensions, including matters such as the integration back into civilian family life and parenting roles. The evidence gathered in the inquiry also suggested that the needs of female veterans have been particularly overlooked.

24. Ensure that veteran mental health services continue to be supported and ensure plans include social work interventions that deliver preventive and restorative outcomes.

 25. Establish a government inquiry into the mental health of female veterans with a focus on developing a framework to support them.

 Running concurrent with these findings, Emma Lewell-Buck MP has asked numerous Parliamentary questions to try and ascertain the Governments/ MOD’s position regarding support for women veterans. On 5th July 2016, she received the latest data from Sir Mike Penning MP the then Minister of State (Ministry of Justice). However, he was unable to provide, details of the nature of the offending that led to incarceration or provide details of support provided to the women during and after release.

 ‘No one goes out of their way to end up in the criminal justice system. I came close, but was able to understand that what I was about to do was wrong in so many ways. I believe PTSD has a massive part to play in thoughts and behaviour (some may disagree with me) the problem with PTSD is that we don't realise that our thoughts and behaviour are being controlled. I believed I was making the right decision. I did realise, thinking the way I was, was very out of character and sort help.’’ (Woman Veteran)

 ‘I would say mental health and lack of support. I was lucky to come out to a supportive partner and family but some people don't have that. I watched some of my friends be discharged at 24 years and all they knew was the army, we all really worried for them all have kept themselves straight and narrow but would have been easy for them to slip. I see crimes such as burglary been down to struggling to find work and support, and assaults been down to struggling with mental health and again lack of support.’’ (woman Veteran)

Forward Assist has recently returned from its third research trip to USA. During our time there we visited numerous Government organisations and specialist services that support Women Veterans after military service. We met with a large number of women veteran support services, including the Women Veterans Lead at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington DC . We also visited the Department of Veterans Services in Virginia and Congressmen Connolly’s Staff Team and were delighted to host us as guests of honour at Fairfax Veterans Treatment Court.

 The US are very advanced in their general care and understanding regarding their support needed for military veterans and are able track where veterans are after leaving the services. They are therefore, able to signpost women veterans to localised specialist support services.  Any woman involved with Veteran Treatment Courts is immediately allocated a Woman Veteran Court Mentor who helps facilitate access to mental health support, drug & alcohol advice as well as case managing and coordinating care.

On 14th March 2017, Forward Assist were invited to take a group of women veterans to the House of Lords to give evidence on their ‘ lived experience’ as part in the Social Work All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Work. The session was focussed exclusively on Women Veterans mental health needs. During this meeting the attendees shared their personal experiences with several women Members of Parliament, Dame Vera Baird QC and the British Association of Social Workers.

Emma Lewell-Buck MP shared the following information;

·        There are currently 3 million veterans in the UK with between 3000 and 5000 re-entering civilian life every year.

·       Women veterans are neglected by politicians and by wider support services. Services that do exist are specifically designed for men.

·       There has been no national mapping done to find out what happens to women veterans after service.

·       Between October 2015 and September 2106, 6,115 armed services personnel – 1,188 of them women - received a MoD mental health disorder assessment (this does not include all of those people who went for help elsewhere).

·       Between July and December 2015, 1,439 members of the armed forces – 40 of them women - went to prison.

·       US studies show that women veterans are 2 to 3 times more likely than the general female population to take their own lives.

·       The APPG on Social Work’s Mental Health Report recommended that mental health services for all veterans include social work interventions that deliver preventative and restorative outcomes as well as establishing a Government inquiry into the mental health needs of women veterans.

 Following on from the APPG Round Table event, Anne Marie Trevelyan MP raised the issue of social isolation with the then Prime Minister Theresa May at the Prime Ministers Question Time on March 22nd 2017.

Over the last four years we are proud to have highlighted the plight of women veterans both nationally and internationally. The women in involved in our research and service design can be proud of the progress made to date. Salute Her UK is a ground breaking project and the team has developed a best in class gender specific service, that is both fit for purpose and appreciated by those that use it. We have also facilitated peer led research trips to Holland and The USA and arranged life changing meetings with the Veterans Institute in Amsterdam and the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington DC. We have also facilitated several women only consultation events, including four residential therapeutic retreats in Northumberland and France.

We are delighted to be opening up a new front supporting women veterans and intend to create a bespoke ‘women only’ charity , Women Veterans ‘Trauma Informed’ Community Support Team and a Health & Wellbeing Centre of Excellence in the North East of England during 2021.

Tony Wright CEO

Veterans & Homelessness

It wasn’t that long ago that homeless veterans were a hidden population. Every Day Centre or Direct Entry Accommodation project in the country had one (or more) but 10 years ago, nobody joined the dots or asked why so many veterans were living chaotic lives with multiple and complex unmet needs.

As a Probation Officer I remember having a conversation with a newly qualified colleague who had just had her first encounter with a veteran subject to a Probation Order. The man who had served 16 years in the Army and had struggled to make the transition back to the civilian community both psychologically and physically, and had until recently, been living in trench he had dug for himself rather than sleep rough on the streets in the City. He told her that pride was the motivating factor behind his reasoning and said that… 

“I’m not homeless; I am living tactically”

He said he had used the skills he had gained whilst serving, to tactically situate himself where he could not be seen by the general public. He was for all intents and purposes an ‘Invisible man’

 Many of the individuals who access support from Forward Assist report similar experiences of sleeping and living in ‘shell scrapes’ and ‘home made shacks’. I recall working with a Veteran who served for 10 years, was suffering from adjustment issues and had a diagnosis of PTSD. He was living in a small tent when he referred himself to our service. With the help of a solicitor that provides ‘pro- bono’ legal advice to our veterans it was established that the eviction that led to his becoming homeless was for all intents and purposes illegal and with the help of a supportive local authority Housing Manager we managed to get him re-housed very quickly with SSAFA providing essential household furnishings.

 The other veteran was a former member of the Parachute Regiment and had been medically discharged after serving 6 years. He was living in a garden shed following the breakup of his marriage when we heard about his plight. A visit by our crisis team confirmed the situation and as a ‘stop gap’ emergency measure the man was accommodated over the weekend in a local Bed and Breakfast Hotel. This was followed up with face to face contact with the local authority housing department and they took over the cost of accommodating him in the hotel until suitable accommodation could be found.

In the interim, the veteran had weekly contact with our Outreach team who liaised with the council and other support agencies to ensure a robust package of support was in place and some weeks later he was offered a local authority two bedroom flat which he accepted. Again SSAFA were superb and very quickly provided essential electrical goods to allow this man to once again re-establish himself in the community. The above scenarios could quite easily have had a different outcome and one that would have cost society a significant amount of money if the veterans, both had past involvement with the Criminal justice System, had re-offended. As one guy said,

“Its difficult to accept help when you feel so ashamed.”

 Many years ago I managed a Day Centre for the homeless and on winter nights we would carry out ‘street outreach’. I know from experience that at least 6% or more of the rough sleepers that we encountered were former service personnel. They were generally the individuals that the homeless sector staff had given up on and deemed as unresponsive and not worthy of the effort to cajole back off the streets and into some sort of emergency accommodation.

The housing workers at that time held a similar view stating that it was a pointless exercise helping veterans as they always chose to return to the streets anyway. Sometimes it was because they could not connect with a civilian case worker and other times it was because they were evicted because of their unruly behaviour and failure to comply with house rules or simply because they never paid their rent. Either way, everyone seemed to have given up on them. For many their engagement with mainstream services was usually followed by a ‘Wild West’  ‘Saloon Door’ exit! Rejection is a painful emotion.

Thankfully things have changed in recent years with numerous ‘veteran specific’ accommodation projects and support groups stepping up to address this gap in service delivery. Sadly, even today there is no accurate data on how many Veterans remain homeless, are sofa surfing, have drug and alcohol dependency issues and/or have involvement with the Criminal Justice System. All of which can severely impact on future employment opportunities and life chances.

So what does happens to veterans when they make the transition back to the community after a spell in the Armed Forces? Well the lager service charities will tell you that 95% make the transition really well and settle down, get a job and get on with the rest of their lives and do not come to the attention of welfare services. That’s not to say they do not experience difficulties its just that they don’t end up coming to the attention of Social services , the Criminal Justice System, Mental health services, or drug and alcohol addiction specialists. Personally, after 12 years working in the sector I think 70% of veterans successfully transition and 30% struggle to adjust to civilian life.

In my experience many veterans live lives perpetuated by a series of unfortunate events that quickly lead to ever decreasing options and opportunities. The problems usually manifest themselves in one or more of the following; relationship breakdown, social isolation, drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness, debt, poor mental health and physical health, involvement in the Criminal Justice System, exclusion from mainstream services and long term unemployment.

 Even now, when former service personnel present themselves as homeless they are not, in many cases, classed as in need of priority housing. Those with a physical disability, quite rightly have preferential treatment, especially if that disability is a direct result of their service. Unfortunately the majority of the veterans we work with have invisible wounds. PTSD, adjustment disorder, survivor guilt , moral injury , undiagnosed TBi’s depression or other mental health related problems.

In Summary, we all have a collective responsibility to support those we have put in harm’s way. However we need to be a little more proactive in identifying veterans at first point of contact to stop them from slipping through the welfare safety net. We can do this by insisting all organisations ask the question;

‘Have you served in the British Armed Forces?’

Not everyone identifies with the term Veteran, especially women. If you work in the caring profession ask your organisation to include it on your data collection sheets. If you are an employer do you know how many of your staff served in the military? if you don’t then ask… the question?

By doing so you would be affording researchers a golden opportunity to collect data on the veteran community but also opening doors to a variety of funding and support that veterans are both entitled and deserve.

 Tony Wright CEO

Veterans, Social isolation, The Criminal Justice System & Other Ramblings!

Over ten years ago back in 2010, I was asked to write a response to an article written by Peter Walker in ‘The Guardian’ Comments Section on Wednesday 11th August 2010. He highlighted a Sport Radio advert that had been banned for potentially causing serious offence; the advert paid for by The Association of Chief Police officers (ACPO), allegedly;

 “…..urged listeners to consider calling the police’s anti terrorist hotline if they had suspicions about local people who avoided company, kept their windows covered and eschewed bank cards for cash”.

 Apart from potentially demonising a sub section of the population for whom socio-economic reasons may have dictated that they did not have the luxury of banking facilities. The article also ran the risk of drawing undue negative attention to those that may have been eccentric in nature, enjoyed solitude, suffered from hay fever, agoraphobia, depression or were are unfortunate enough to have a skin disorder that necessitated staying indoors and away from the sun. Perhaps they were elderly and like a lot of old people just wanted to keep warm? Whatever the scenario the scheme was ill thought out and probably very expensive to initiate.

  My response was never published. Simply because, I pointed out that the behaviours described by the Police as indicative of ‘armed terrorists’ were also that of lonely and/or self isolating veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) and Adjustment Disorder.

 At that time, the editor told me that no one would understand where I was coming from so they decided not to run the story! Thankfully things have changed over the years, yet there are still areas that lack understanding, awareness or adequate research.

 One consistent, under researched and underreported sub group in the UK are veterans involved with the Criminal Justice System. An increasing number of the Veterans we work with can be classed as experiencing chronic social exclusion and are at times labelled 'uncooperative’, ‘hard to reach’ with ‘multiple complex unmet needs'. Regrettably we are seeing more and more disenfranchised veterans who are unable to engage with a society that does not understand them and as a consequence, mainstream services are unable to offer specialist or practical support.

Ten years ago our understanding of veteran issues and the problems faced by those former service personnel involved with the Criminal Justice System increased enormously due to the forward thinking of ‘trailblazing’ individuals and organisations such as Harry Fletcher (NAPO) and Elfyn Llwyd MP, Nick Wood, Lord Ramsbotham, Trevor Philpott OBE and more recently several organisations specialising in Justice System Involved veterans. Promoting and representing the needs of one of the most marginalised and misunderstood groups in our society is in many ways a thankless task but a campaign that must nevertheless continue to be championed at all costs.

 Individually and collectively the above mentioned, have changed the way we think about veterans involved with the CJS. What is really interesting is that none of the above were ever tasked with the responsibility of raising awareness or addressing this much neglected sub group via grass roots interventions . All came to it with a genuine desire to right a social injustice, and did so in their own time, at their own expense and with very little support or recognition. I for one would like to thank them for their contribution and selfless actions as their forward thinking has transformed many lives and reduced offending significantly.

 Yet, I digress, …what I did say in the ‘never to see the light of day’ article, was that the behaviours described by the ‘anti terrorist hotline’ mirror those of former forces personnel that both Forward Assist & Salute Her regularly encounter on a daily basis . Many of the veterans that are referred to our service find themselves disenfranchised from mainstream services and support networks and this leads to self imposed isolation, self harm, risky behaviour and in some cases suicide.

 It is now widely recognised that a significant number of former service personnel when returning from active service or after serving custodial sentences have a tendency to self isolate; self medicate with alcohol or drugs, and only communicate with the outside world via ‘Face book’, rather than having ‘face to face’ contact with friend’s family or peers. I’m not knocking social media in any of its forms. Its a life saver!(The latter becoming an absolute necessity during the recent C-19 pandemic and lockdown.)

C-19, notwithstanding, many veterans choose to carry out their financial transactions with cash as they live on Armed Forces Pensions and choose not to claim unemployment benefits. Many report that they keep themselves to themselves as they feel they have nothing in common with civilian society and struggle to re-assimilate with a community they left behind both physically and psychologically when they joined the Military.

Many veterans on release from prison (if they are lucky enough to have accommodation) may as a way of coping and surviving try to give themselves space in order to  ‘get their shit together’ (sic) Shutting the curtains and rarely going out during the day may be the only way they can take control over their lives. They may be experiencing symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress or adjustment difficulties. Societal disapproval, real or perceived, when coupled with a sense of failure and the lack of empathetic support services can have a negative emotional impact on the ‘returning soldier’, and aggravate a sense of disassociation, it can destroy connectedness with the civilian community and increase the chances of, self harm, self destructive behaviours’, increase the risk of offending and the likelihood of those on the ‘receiving end’ to become reclusive and addicted to drugs and/or alcohol.

 A significant number of veterans that access our services are subject to Probation Orders or have recently left Prison and pre C-19 only ventured out to meet the requirements of their licence conditions or community based court orders. The simple act of joining a veteran specific mutual support group, of which there are now many has helped connect thousands of veterans to much needed psych-social support. In the past, many veterans reported that they were unable to meet their Court ordered requirements due to the episodic nature of their mental health issues anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder or (PTS) and a lack of awareness of the issues affecting transitioning veterans and were ultimately breached. Thankfully, every cloud has a silver lining and the recent pandemic necessitated a much needed change in reporting practices so veterans on Probation were able to connect with their allocated officers via zoom (or something similar) resulting in excellent compliance rates. Sadly, for incarcerated veterans, many find a hierarchical environment and structure that they are familiar with, a place of safety where everyone has a role and a position. A dysfunctional utopia....but for a few, a utopia for veterans nevertheless!

 One of the categorisations to describe veterans that I’m told hasn’t helped is calling all service personnel Heroes. The title brings with it images of glamour and social standing along with an expectation of exemplary behaviour. The bizarre phenomenon of 'putting all soldiers on a pedestal' leaves a significant number of recipients with only one way to go....and that is downhill. It really does not matter how a 'hero' fails to live up to the anticipated expectation; once they become involved with the Criminal Justice system many view themselves as disgraced. In their own eyes they are confused and ashamed and continue struggle to come to terms with the change in status and how best to reinvent themselves following release back into the community. Shame is a very negative and destructive emotion. Self harm in all its guises is an all too easy option for the disenfranchised veteran, sometimes and increasingly with tragic consequences.

 Anecdotal evidence from those working in the Criminal Justice System or Social Care settings has recognized that this problem has always existed and some of us have known about this problem for many decades, but the distinct needs of this misunderstood and marginalised group have always been systematically overlooked and ignored by the MOD and Governmental Agencies and in many cases Armed Forces Charities, who worried that working with veterans involved with the Criminal Justice System would damage their reputation. A short-sighted and discriminatory practice indeed.

 I recently had a conversation with a Senior Probation Officer in Newcastle upon Tyne who described the recent interest in Veterans within the Criminal Justice System as nothing more than ‘a fashion’ that would run its course until the next disadvantaged group came along. This personal view point initially surprised me and could be described as both insensitive and naïve. Yet in many ways their are right, as history has shown that the needs of veterans have come in and out of vogue following periods of war since time immemorial. Sadly in the UK it has always been left to the Service Charity sector and the Regimental Associations to act as the MOD’s and successive Governments ‘sticking plaster’.

“When veterans become involved with the Criminal Justice System it affords all of us with a crucial opportunity to help them. In order to do this we need to first of all recognise that they exist! Secondly, we need to understand the unique factors that make them a distinct group within the offender population and therefore worthy of continued specialist support during and after any period of incarceration.”

The recent establishment of the UK Office for Veterans Affairs is a quantum leap forward as they can learn so much from our American, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and European counterparts. Yet, ignoring the contribution of small locality based veteran centric charities ,CIC’s and unincorporated groups is a mistake, as it is this cohort of experts with ‘lived experience’ that delivered much needed practical, emotional , in kind and financial support to hundreds of thousands of veterans during the 2020 C-19 pandemic. You know who you are… and If nobody else has had the decency to thank you … I will… Its truly appreciated and rest assured you will have saved many lives.

In summary, we all have a moral obligation and ‘Duty of Care’ to support those we have put in ‘harm’s way’ and it makes complete  sense both practically and economically to support those that end up on the wrong side of the law whatever the reason for discharge from the military. I look forward to future examples of alternatives to custody for Armed forces Veterans. We are doing our bit in the North East of England but like all innovative initiatives new ideas need acceptance and appropriate levels of funding to develop such services and then share best practice. Lets hope 2021 brings enlightenment .

Tony Wright CEO Social Worker & Probation Officer