Mental health and wellbeing
Life can be tough when you or a loved one leaves the Armed Forces. But you are not alone, we are here for you.
Being physically active
Staying physically active can make you feel so much better about life. The healthier you are physically, the more confidence and energy you will have. Being active can also help you get better sleep, which can play a big role in your mental health.
It also helps to have a healthy lifestyle. The following will improve your physical and mental health
- Only drinking alcohol in moderation
- Having a healthy and balanced diet, including drinking plenty of water
- Staying at a healthy weight for you
- Not smoking. Your GP can help you with this.
If you regularly take positive steps in all those areas, life should soon start to feel a lot easier and more fun.
We can help you get back into sport and physical activity with a range of supported activities for people of all abilities, across the UK.
We also run an online group course called Nutrition: What, Why and How, through our Recovery College.
Connecting with others
Meeting up with people with shared interests and experiences can be great for your mental health.
Many veterans and their families find that spending time with others who have been through the same things makes them feel better.
We run group sport and social activities for veterans and families. This allows people to get active, take up a hobby or activity, and meet other people. We know it might not be easy to take that first step to meet new people, so our experienced staff are on hand to support you.
A coffee morning or a walk with other friendly veterans and families could be the moment everything starts to feel better.
Understanding your own mind
Understanding your mental health is a big part of staying healthy and happy. You can apply for a course and we also have self-help guides to help you develop the skills and knowledge to look after your mental health.
Talking it through
It is always good to talk about your feelings. If there’s something that is worrying or upsetting you, talk to someone you trust. This could be a friend, relative, a trusted colleague, or someone in our team..
If you’re finding things tough, our mental health professionals within our Hidden Wounds Service are there for you.
If you’re in pain, or if you feel anxious, stressed or lonely, we can help.
We can also help if you’re having money troubles, or need support with housing or applying for benefits.
You might just need a listening ear. We can provide that too. Start your recovery journey today by getting in touch.
Either submit a form, or call us on our helpline.
PHONE OUR HELPLINE
If you'd like to talk to us please phone us on 0300 303 9888 - Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.
Calls to this number are charged at your standard network rate.
Therapy service
We provide a range of talking therapies to help veterans and their families with their mental health.
Suicide Awareness Training
Help us create suicide-safer communities for veterans by taking our free online training today.
Manage anxiety
Here, you will find tips and advice on practical things you can do at home to help manage anxiety.
Living with low mood and depression
Low mood can affect people’s thoughts. Sometimes depression makes everything feel harder to do. If this sounds like something you’re experiencing, these courses can help you.
Self-help guides
These easy-to-follow self-help guides will give you useful information and tips to make positive and lasting change in key areas of your life.
Interesting Reads
Blog: PTSD
The real story of veterans’ mental health
Updated on
Mental health has received a lot of positive attention in recent years. Sadly, this isn't yet reflected in how the mental health of the veteran community is portrayed in the media or valued in society.
General: General | Armed Forces community | Mental Health
Mental-health specialist wins national award
Updated on
A member of our case management team has won the national title of ‘Heropreneur of the Year’ in recognition of his work on mental health throughout the pandemic.
Help for Heroes:
How Hidden Wounds continues to support veterans and their families
Updated on
In recent years, the conversation about mental health has taken a positive step into the limelight.
Falklands War: Falklands War
David Cruickshanks
Updated on
Had it not been for a sailor becoming ill onboard HMS Fearless a few weeks earlier, 17-year-old David would not have gone to the Falklands War.
The Veterans War: Stronger Together | Hero Stories | Strong Made Stronger | The Veterans War
Derek
Updated on
Derek was serving in Afghanistan when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb. He awoke nine days later as a double amputee, his life changed forever.
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