Ways to improve your mental health and wellbeing
There are many things you can do to improve your mental health.
In crisis? Find out how you can get urgent support
If you need support urgently or outside of our working hours, please don’t hesitate to contact
SAMARITANS
Freephone their national helpline on 116 123 (24/7) to access confidential emotional support for feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts
SHOUT
A crisis text support service for people in the military community who are struggling and need immediate support to get through a crisis. Text CONTACT to 85258. #TextCONTACT85258
NHS 111
To access medical help fast but when it’s not a 999 emergency, telephone 111 (available 24 hours). To access information from the NHS on conditions, treatments, local services and healthy living, visit the NHS website.
COMBAT STRESS
For urgent psychological support, please call 0800 1381619.
SHELTER
For urgent housing support, please call 0808 800 4444.
Everyone has days when they feel overwhelmed, worried, or fed up. But if you regularly struggle with your mental health, for example feeling depressed, anxious, lonely, or angry, it may be time to reach out for support.
How we can help
We have a mental health therapy service called Hidden Wounds. Our therapists use a range of approaches to support veterans, their family members aged over 18, and those who’ve served under UK command.
We also provide practical support for other challenges that may be affecting your family's well-being.
OUR HIDDEN WOUNDS THERAPY SERVICE
Our team of experienced mental health professionals might recommend self-directed help, or offer therapies including high and low intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or counselling. They understand the military community and are here to help you feel better, whatever you’re going through.
Find out more about the therapies offered by our Hidden Wounds team.
FAMILY SUPPORT
Our Hidden Wounds team directly supports all family members aged 18 and over. Family members aged 10-18 can access Kooth, a free, safe, and anonymous online counselling service designed for young people.
We also offer CRAFT - a practical intervention to support family members of veterans struggling with their mental health. Find out more on our therapies page.
Our welfare team provide practical guidance, assistance, and advice on a wide range of challenges that might affect your family's wellbeing. Find out more about our family support services.
SELF-HELP GUIDES AND RESOURCES
If you would like to explore other ways to improve your mental health, our free self-help guides and courses, provided by our Recovery College, are a good place to start.
Designed specifically by and for the Armed Forces community, these resources help you to manage your physical and mental wellbeing so you can move forward with confidence.
Topics include low mood and depression, anxiety, understanding anger, caring for the carer, mind mood and body, and many more.
GET HELP
If you or your family need some support for your mental health, you'll need to go through our Get Help process. You can complete the online form or call our friendly Helpline team on 0300 303 9888.
Our Helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm. Calls to this number are charged at your standard network rate.
related resources
Therapy service
We provide a range of talking therapies to help veterans and their families with their mental health.
Suicide Awareness Training
Help us create suicide-safer communities for veterans by taking our free online training today.
Family support
When a parent or carer's life has been affected by military service, it can affect the whole family. Find out how our Case Managers can help.
Self-help guides
These easy-to-follow self-help guides will give you useful information and tips to make positive and lasting change in key areas of your life.
Recovery College
Find ways to live a healthy, purposeful and secure life with our free online group courses and self-help guides. Including tools, tips and strategies to help improve and manage your wellbeing.
Our accreditations
Interesting Reads
The real story of veterans’ mental health
Updated on
Mental health has received a lot of positive attention in recent years. Sadly, this isn't yet reflected in how the mental health of the veteran community is portrayed in the media or valued in society.
Mental-health specialist wins national award
Updated on
A member of our case management team has won the national title of ‘Heropreneur of the Year’ in recognition of his work on mental health throughout the pandemic.