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In today’s Autumn Statement, the Chancellor confirmed a £10 million funding package to support veterans’ mental health, through the Veterans’ Places, Pathways and People programme.
The current unprecedented demands on our health services and the cost-of-living crisis has further exposed the scale of need and highlights the urgency for the provision of better mental health support for veterans.
In recognition of this, there has been a step change in veterans’ mental health provision, driven by significant investment allocated in NHS mental health specialist services. However, we believe that it is still difficult for many to access what feels like the right help.
We believe many of the challenges veterans face stem precisely at the point of transition and that is where a greater focus must be to ensure better long-term mental health outcomes for those who leave the military.
We now look forward to seeing more of the detail behind how these policies will be set out.
The Chancellor also announced a one-year extension of the National Insurance contributions relief scheme for employers who take on eligible veterans.
Commenting on the Autumn Statement, our CEO, James Needham, said:
"We welcome today’s £10 million announcement to support veterans with their mental health. Mental health is still a hidden problem for veterans, and it can be difficult for many to access what feels like the right help. Many challenges stem precisely at the point of transition and if we are serious about ensuring better long-term outcomes for those who leave the military, that is where the focus and investment must be.”
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