Norfolk and Suffolk mental health trust honours Armed Forces Week
Celebrations are taking place this week to mark both Armed Forces Week (23 - 29 June), and Armed Forces Day, on Saturday, 28 June.
Veteran mental health professionals at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) are joining a host of events and services to show the Trust's commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community's mental health needs.
Wayne Ward, Senior Armed Forces and Veterans Practitioner, served 31 years in the army. He has since dedicated eight years supporting fellow veterans at NSFT, from addressing psychological trauma, social disadvantage or obstacles to their engagement with mental health services.
Wayne said: "I am proud of my military service, and I'm equally proud of those that continue to serve their country so well today. Armed Forces Week is an opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate and express our appreciation for the incredible men and women who serve, and have served, our country."
Members of NSFT's veterans' services and Op Courage East of England will mark the beginning of the week by attending flag raising ceremonies in Bury St Edmunds and Norwich. Other events include The Bigger Breakfast in Ipswich, the James Paget University Hospital's Armed Forces Day celebrations, and Armed Forces Day celebrations at The Nest Norwich, which includes a military parade led by the City of Norwich Pipe Band.
Clinical Nurse Specialist Vicki Bailey has also been invited by the Ministry of Defence to join the Royal Norfolk Show on 25 June, and Wayne and the Veterans Wellbeing Support Group, will be attending the closing show on 26 June.
Tracey Slater, Op Courage Clinical Nurse Specialist, is a military veteran, having served in the Royal Navy and Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Services.
She said: "Mental health issues are prevalent in our military and veteran communities, and yet many people struggle to talk about these difficulties in fear of being misunderstood.
"Our teams have received specialist training, or have personal military experience, to best support the Armed Forces community. We are always trying to break down barriers that prevent veterans from reaching out for mental health support and we are looking forward to speaking to the community this week as we honour Armed Forces Week."
NSFT was recently reaccredited Veteran Aware by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance for its mental health work with military personnel. It follows the Trust being recognised with a silver award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme last year, both of which demonstrate the Trust's commitment to working with and improving care for veterans, reservists, members of the Armed Forces and their families.
Anthony Deery, Chief Nurse at NSFT, said: "Our Trust is proud to receive recognition for our important work in providing mental health care for veterans and their families and carers, supporting the transition into civilian life and addressing health inequalities.
"It's imperative that we continue to build on our services as our Trust continues its improvement journey. It is a privilege therefore to attend these services and events for Armed Forces Week where we can engage directly with the Armed Forces community and ensure their needs are being addressed."
This month has also seen the launch of the Forcer Protocol at both Suffolk and Norfolk Constabulary. This protocol is a national initiative designed to capture and access key information about vulnerable members of HM Armed Forces or veterans who are at risk of going missing, giving them the best chance of being found safely and provided with specialised aftercare.
Prior to a person going missing, families, carers, friends or the individuals themselves can fill out an online form with vital information such as medical history, known triggers, previous incidents of going missing, and contact details. This information will only be accessed by police if the individual is reported missing, enabling faster and more informed search efforts.
The form can be found on the Safe and Found Online website - https://safeandfoundonline.co.uk/forcer-protocol/index.html
Photo of Tracey Slater and Wayne Ward for media use: Armed Forces Week assets.zip [zip] 89KB