New mental health partnership for veterans
By William Smith
A defence policy and business news article brings great news for veterans with mental health problems in 
Essex.
The news article says that a groundbreaking partnership has been formed at Colchester Garrison between the military, the NHS and the Combat Stress charity to meet the needs of veterans with mental health problems.
The North Essex Veterans Mental Health Network is the first of its kind in the country. The three organisations who have joined forces are the Colchester Garrison’s Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH), North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Combat Stress.
A conference was held by the new partnership under the slogan ‘A United Approach’ to explore which services are already available locally for veterans and to see how links between organisations working in this field can be improved. The conference was held at the Weston Homes Community Stadium in Colchester on 18th October.
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Mike Srinivasan, consultant psychiatrist at DCMH Colchester can be credited with the idea of this network. The concept grew from the work of DCMH staff to help a veteran who was leaving the forced but still had a need for continued mental healthcare.
Enable East, an NHS team which specialises in the support and delivery of public sector projects can be credited with the union of the three partners. £130,000 funding was secured from the Department of Health from a budget set up to improve services following the 2010 report into military mental healthcare by Dr. Andrew Murrison MP.
Andrew Geldard, Chief Executive of the North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said ‘This is a new way of working between organisations with different expertises, and will help veterans find the healthcare they need. You can't just put up a sign that says 'Over here please'; you have to reach people where they are and as they are, and that's what this will do.’
‘This is a great opportunity for the three main organisations that are responsible for the mental healthcare of our military personnel, who later become veterans, to share ideas and work together to create care pathways,’ said Lt. Col. (Retd) Srinivasan.
He added ‘This will enable our veterans, who have given so much of themselves for our freedom and protection, to get the best assessment and treatment possible in a seamless manner. It is our joint way of saying thank you for what you have given us.’
Combat Stress spokesman Neil Cox said ‘Combat Stress is the UK's leading charity that specialises in the mental health of veterans and we are delighted to be involved with the North Essex Veterans Mental Health Network. Combat Stress supports over 4,600 veterans of all ages around the UK, including 119 veterans across Essex. We are looking forward to being able to support even more of Essex's veterans through the Network.’
