Combat Stress, the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health, is sharing its tops tips to help former servicemen and women cope with the Christmas and New Year period.
Christmas is a time for celebration, yet it can be difficult for veterans with mental health problems. Some may feel isolated, lonely or depressed, while others can feel overwhelmed by large gatherings of family and friends, or feel they don’t have time for themselves.
Read moreCombat Stress, the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health, has today announced Neil Oliver as an ambassador in Scotland.
The television presenter, archaeologist and author, best known for presenting series such as A History of Scotland, Vikings and Coast, will help the charity to raise awareness of its vital work supporting former servicemen and women with issues like trauma, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Neil recently visited Hollybush House, the Combat Stress treatment centre in Ayr, to meet with veterans supported by the charity.
Read moreFundraiser Peyton Melling was recently named as a finalist for ITV’s Lorraine Inspirational Woman of the Year award for her incredible efforts to raise awareness of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The 23-year-old lost her dad to PTSD after he served in the Army for 25 years. She has since been campaigning tirelessly in his memory, including completing an 82 mile hike for Combat Stress.
“I chose to walk the Great Glen Way because my Dad was a big walker and loved walking in the mountains. I wanted to do something that would be a challenge, so we could earn the money we were raising for Combat Stress.
Read moreWe understand that Bonfire Night can be a difficult time of year, the specialist clinical team at Combat Stress gives the following advice:
Plan your evening : The first thing to think about is how you want to spend the evening and whether you might like to go out or would prefer to stay home.
Bonfire Night can be a useful opportunity to begin to ‘break the link’ between current triggers and past traumatic experiences, by focusing on what is different about fireworks and your environment.
It may be that being exposed to strong triggers feels too much, if that is the case, think about where you will be on Bonfire Night and prepare using some of the techniques described below.
Read moreGlobal Brand Performance Media Agency, The Specialist Works, has kindly donated £50,000 worth of advertising space through their Goodwill Rocks initiative to help Combat Stress promote the support they offer to former servicemen and women.
The Goodwill Rocks initiative provides charities with free or low-cost marketing by utilising left over advertising space, enabling them to create efficient fundraising or awareness campaigns in a cost effective way.
Read moreLast month Charlie Hammerton, an RAF veteran and his pet ferret, Bandit made the journey from Nottinghamshire to Oosterbeck in Holland to complete an eight mile walk to raise money for Combat Stress.
Both Charlie and Bandit wore WW2 uniform for the walk from the original drop zones in Oosterbeck to Arnhem Bridge.
“I have been to the area a number of times before, I’ve done parachute jumps, cycled and run, but never walked. Bandit and I walked the length of Hadrian’s Wall together for Motor Neurone disease earlier this year, so I decided to bring him along too.
Read moreHeritage Lottery Fund has granted £21,800 to veterans’ mental health charity, Combat Stress towards establishing its archives.
Combat Stress holds records, including meeting documents, photographs and objects dating back to 1919 when the charity was founded following the First World War. These materials not only represent the history of Combat Stress and the support it provided, but also reflect the changing attitudes over the years to mental health.
Read moreVeterans’ mental health charity Combat Stress has received a £40,000 grant from The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and their strategic partner, Greenwich Hospital.
This generous grant has been awarded to go towards core treatment and support costs for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines veterans that come to the charity. Combat Stress provides specialist treatment at its treatment centres, practical and clinical support in the Community and a free 24-hour Helpline.
Read moreCombat Stress has announced a new five-year strategic plan to improve veterans’ recovery experience and enable the charity to raise the money needed to fund its life-changing work.
The plans are in response to the continued growth in demand for the charity’s support, with a 143% increase in referrals over the last decade. In the last year alone Combat Stress received more than 10,000 calls to their Helpline, and more than 2,400 new veterans were referred for treatment.
Following an 18-month period of discussion with veterans, employees, military charities and healthcare professionals, the new strategy has been designed to offer greater flexibility and accessibility to treatment so veterans can be supported more quickly.
Read moreWholesale jewellery brand, Frank Ross Ltd. has raised almost £40,000 for Combat Stress, the UK’s leading veterans’ mental health charity.
After hearing of the work Combat Stress does to help veterans with mental health conditions, Frank Ross Ltd. decided to support the charity through the sale of their poppy jewellery collection. Since they started supporting the charity in late 2015 Frank Ross Ltd. has raised almost £40,000 for Combat Stress.
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