Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to support armed forces personnel who are unable to be deployed due to mental and behavioural disorders.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) encourages personnel to consider their mental fitness as equally as important as their physical fitness promoting good mental resilience and mitigating the negative impacts of potential traumatic experiences.

The Department encourages early identification and intervention for those experiencing mental health challenges and actively promotes a culture where Personnel feel comfortable seeking help without stigma.

Personnel have access to a vast range of resources to support their mental health with both in-person and online options, briefings before, during, and post-deployment, a dedicated 24 hour phoneline for both personnel and their families and access to HeadFIT; an externally accessible website specifically designed for the Defence community. All Personnel, attend a mandated annual mental fitness brief which provides information on mental health, wellbeing, stress management, and provides signposting to appropriate help.

Personnel who are unable to be deployed due to mental health disorders are managed clinically by Defence Primary Healthcare (DPHC). DPHC provides a responsive, flexible, accessible, and comprehensive treatment service. DPHC has introduced standardised training for primary care clinicians incorporating emerging digital interventions to ensure Personnel can access initial mental healthcare at any Defence medical centre, strengthening the initial management of mental health disorders within primary care settings.

Defence Mental Health Networks (DMHNs) are located across the UK and are improving access to specialist mental health services for personnel. These specialist community mental health services provide enhanced access to expert assessment and treatment for personnel experiencing mental health disorders. By introducing new single points of access, enabling the sharing of specialist skills across network locations and consolidating clinical and governance processes DMHNs are reducing wait times to enhanced assessments and core treatment therapies.

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

Defence is committed to ensuring that Service Personnel receive the care and treatment required to ensure they are fit to fight and can fight back to fitness.