Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve mental health support services for military veterans, including those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Service Personnel who have been assessed and diagnosed with a mental health need are able to access the Ministry of Defence community mental health services for up to six months after discharge, to provide continuity of care during the transition period, until appropriate handover to the National Health Service and other services can be completed as required.

In April 2023, NHS England commissioned Op COURAGE which is the veterans’ mental health and wellbeing service providing a comprehensive mental health treatment pathway to respond to veterans’ needs. Access to Op COURAGE is via referral or by direct contact from veterans. There is ever increasing investment in this area with the highest level to date in 2023/2024 with planned spend of £23.5 million. Following the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, an additional £2.7 million was pledged over three years until March 2025, to expand Op COURAGE services to support those experiencing complex mental and/or physical trauma or alcohol and substance misuse.

The Government is providing an additional £10 million to support the Veterans’ Places, People and Pathways Programme to increase support to a significant community of vulnerable veterans throughout the United Kingdom and enable it to become self-sustaining.