Written question WQ83224

Wales is proud of its Armed Forces and veterans and we owe a debt of gratitude to all those men and women who served our nation in Afghanistan and elsewhere with courage and professionalism.

We understand the recent events in Afghanistan may have caused some veterans to question the meaning of their service and the sacrifices made. Whilst we would not want to over-medicalise these feelings, they may become persistent and stressful. We have a duty of care to any veteran who needs support, and I want them to know that this support is available to them in Wales.

In conjunction with Veterans’ NHS Wales, the only specialised mental health service provision for veterans in the UK, we have agreed an appropriate national message and signposting to the service through Welsh Government social media channels. Health boards, local authorities and third sector organisations were made aware of this in advance and asked to share through their social media to broaden the reach of the help and support that is available in Wales.

As part of the Armed Forces Covenant, each health board has a board level Armed Forces and Veterans Champion to both acknowledge the service our veterans have given and to ensure the health needs of our veteran population are supported and given appropriate priority. Champions across Wales have also been asked to reinforce and promote the messaging on where to find support.

From 2021/22 onwards Welsh Government has invested an additional £235,000 annually into Veterans’ NHS Wales, an increase of 35% on previous funding. The recurrent budget for Veterans NHS Wales’ is £920,000 per annum. Veterans can access the service through their GP, be referred by third sector organisations or self-refer through the Veterans’ NHS Wales website. Veterans’ NHS Wales provides dedicated veterans’ therapists in each health board offering a range of NICE approved evidence based psychological therapies on-site for a range of mental health problems. It can also help signpost veterans to other support they may require, such as substance misuse services. The service has established an integrated care pathway, joining up statutory and non-statutory sectors and acting as a single point of referral.

We are also actively promoting the confidential listening, support and advice available through the CALL Mental Health Helpline and monitoring the number of calls related to the situation in Afghanistan, on a weekly basis.

Officials have also met with Veterans’ NHS Wales and CALL helpline staff this week to plan for any increased referrals which may occur as a result in the changing situation.