Seafarers UK has awarded Combat Stress a grant of £35,000 towards the assessment, treatment and care of former Merchant Navy seafarers.
Half of this grant was made possible due to the Merchant Navy Fund (MNF), a collaborative initiative by Seafarers UK and the Merchant Navy Welfare Board, set up to help UK serving and retired Merchant Navy seafarers and their families.
Robert Marsh, Director Income Generation at Combat Stress said;
“We are so grateful to Seafarers UK for supporting Combat Stress with this grant towards the assessment, treatment and care of former Merchant Navy seafarers.
“It is vital that we raise awareness and funds for the charity to ensure we can continue to support every veteran that needs our help, that’s why funding, such as this grant from Seafarers UK, is so important.”
Captain David Parsons, Chief Executive of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board said:
“Life at sea is quite unique with long hours, loneliness, confinement to the ship, often for months at a time, lengthy absences from family and friends, all too often combined with hugely stressful situations all of which can, on occasions, lead to breakdowns and mental health problems.
“The Merchant Navy Fund is hugely grateful that Combat Stress is there for our people when needed and glad to be able to award this grant in support of the work.”
For more information on Seafarers UK please visit seafarers.uk
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Combat Stress is the UK’s leading mental health charity for veterans. Founded in 1919, our work is as vital today as it was after the First World War.
Demand for our services is rising – between 2010/11 and 2015/16 we had almost 10,000 referrals, an increase of 71%.
On average it takes 12 years after leaving the military for veterans to contact Combat Stress for help, by which time their condition is often highly complex. However veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts are coming to Combat Stress much sooner.
We treat conditions including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. To help veterans rebuild their lives, we provide a range of free services:
- Short-stay clinical treatment at one of our treatment centres in Ayrshire, Shropshire and Surrey
- A specialist PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme – run at our three treatment centres
- Outpatients – assessment by psychiatrists and psychologists enables us to diagnose, define and deliver the treatment veterans require
- Occupational therapy – using meaningful and creative activity to encourage hope, wellbeing and recovery
- Community Teams – a UK-wide network of Community Teams providing treatment and practical support to veterans
- Substance Misuse Case Management Service – helping veterans to access the services for their drug and alcohol problems so their mental health issues can be addressed
- A 24-hour Helpline for veterans, serving personnel and families (0800 138 1619)
Useful links
Our website: combatstress.org.uk
On Twitter: @CombatStress
On Facebook: facebook.com/CombatStress
On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/combat-stress
Combat Stress, Registered Charity 206002; Registered Charity in Scotland SCO38828; Company Ltd by guarantee: 256353.
