Op COURAGE which is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, armed forces veterans and their families.

The delegation included Cormac Kirwan ONE CEO, Ollie Barbour, ONE Board Member and former Director of Defence Forces Personnel Support Services (PSS), Senator Gerard Craughwell, former Defence Forces and UK Armed Forces Veteran.

Op COURAGE supports veterans and their families with a range of support and treatment, including:
* Helping you transition from military to civilian life by providing mental health care with Defence Medical Services (DMS).
* Helping you recognise and treat early signs of mental health problems, as well as more advanced mental health conditions and psychological trauma.
* Providing support and treatment for substance misuse and addictions.
* Helping you to access other NHS mental health services if you need them, such as finding an NHS talking therapies service and eating disorder services.
* Liaising with charities and local organisations to support your wider health and wellbeing needs, such as help with housing, relationships, finances and employment.
* Supporting armed forces families affected by mental health problems, including helping them to access local services.

You can find out more about Op COURAGE here: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-community/mental-health/veterans-reservists/

ONE unashamedly advocates in support of veterans, particularly on behalf of those who are less fortunate. The majority of veterans, irrespective of the length of service, are very successful in new careers or happy in retirement.  However, there is quite a number who need help from time to time. There is a dual challenge in providing this help: ignorance of the issue and ignoring the issue. Both of these have to be addressed. We must constantly work on awareness and ensure that those who are aware don’t just ignore the issuers involved.

ONE’s primary objective is to support the needs of Irish veterans by the provision of accommodation to homeless and other veterans in need of such domestic accommodation in its Veterans’ Homes and the provision of other advice and support to veterans, in particular Mental Health advice, through its nationwide network of Branches and Veterans’ Support Centres. Visit ONE-Veterans.Org for more info.

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