Supporting a veteran experiencing PTSD symptoms can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to do it alone.
Combat Stress’s Stronger Together programme returns on Thursday 1 October. This free webinar series is designed for family members, partners and friends of veterans.
Led by mental health professionals, each session offers practical advice, tools and guidance to help you better understand the impact of trauma on both veterans and those closest to them.
Attendees who joined our Stronger Together webinars reported a significant increase in confidence, with positive self-ratings rising from 38% before the sessions to 93% afterwards. (Based on self-evaluation completed before and after five live webinars in July 2026.)
The webinar series includes:
· Webinar 1: Support a veteran with PTSD symptoms
· Webinar 2: Overcome communication challenges
· Webinar 3: Respond to anger and keep safe
· Webinar 4: Support a veteran with depression
· Webinar 5: Maintain your own wellbeing and access further support
We encourage you to start with Webinar 1, but you can choose the sessions most relevant to your circumstances. The full series will also run again in February 2027 and June 2027.
Register now: For Family and Friends – Combat Stress Learning
Event listings
Date: 1 October
Title: Combat Stress Stronger Together webinar: Support a veteran with PTSD symptoms
Blurb: This webinar helps veteran families and friends better understand the impact of trauma on veterans and how it can show up in everyday life. They’ll gain clarity on trauma in the military, PTSD, and how to recognise common signs and symptoms. By building this awareness, they’ll feel more confident responding with empathy and understanding. They’ll also learn practical ways to support a veteran in distress, empowering them to offer meaningful support while feeling more informed, capable, and supported themselves.
Click here: For Family and Friends – Combat Stress Learning
Date: 8 October
Title: Combat Stress Stronger Together webinar: Overcome communication challenges
Blurb: This webinar helps veteran families and friends strengthen connection and communication with a veteran by deepening your understanding of how communication styles are shaped, including the lasting influence of military culture. They’ll learn how timing and context can make conversations more effective, and what you do, and don’t, need to know to be supportive without feeling overwhelmed. By exploring love languages and strategies for reconnection, they’ll gain practical ways to rebuild closeness and trust. They’ll also learn how to create emotionally safe environments and gently reconnect through shared activities they once enjoyed together, helping them foster stronger, more meaningful relationships.
Click here: For Family and Friends – Combat Stress Learning
Date: 15 October
Title: Combat Stress Stronger Together webinar: Respond to anger and keep safe
Blurb: This webinar helps veteran families and friends better understand anger and how it relates to military experiences and trauma. They’ll gain clarity on what anger is, why it occurs, and how it can be shaped by service life, including its connection to PTSD. By learning the difference between anger and aggression, they’ll feel more confident responding calmly and effectively rather than fearfully or reactively. They’ll also explore ways to create emotionally and physically safe environments and learn how safety plans can reduce risk and increase stability, empowering them to support a veteran with greater confidence, understanding, and reassurance.
Click here: For Family and Friends – Combat Stress Learning
Date: 22 October
Title: Combat Stress Stronger Together webinar: Support a veteran with depression
Blurb: In this webinar veteran families and friends will gain a clearer understanding of what low mood is and why it can be common for veterans, particularly when trauma is part of their experience. They will learn how thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are linked, helping them make sense of changes they may see in their loved one and respond with greater confidence and compassion. They can expect to explore how negative thoughts develop and practical ways to respond that are supportive rather than overwhelming. Most importantly, they will leave with practical, everyday strategies to help improve mood through activity, empowering them to support their loved one while also protecting their own emotional wellbeing.
Click here: For Family and Friends – Combat Stress Learning
Date: 29 October
Title: Combat Stress Stronger Together webinar: Maintain your own wellbeing and access further support
Blurb: This webinar puts veteran families and friends wellbeing at the centre of the recovery journey, helping them understand why looking after themselves is not only valid but essential. They’ll explore values-led living and the foundations of wellbeing, giving them practical ways to maintain balance, resilience, and purpose. They’ll gain a clearer picture of what recovery can realistically look like, helping them hold hope while managing expectations. The session also shows them what support is available, both for them and their veteran, so they don’t feel alone or unsure about where to turn. Hearing a real veteran’s recovery story brings reassurance and perspective, helping them see that progress is possible, and that support truly makes a difference.
Click here: For Family and Friends – Combat Stress Learning
