How to Access Op COURAGE: Mental Health Support for Veterans
If you have left the armed forces and are struggling with your mental health, Op COURAGE is a service designed specifically for you. It is part of the NHS in England and offers free mental health support to veterans, reservists and their families. Similar services exist elsewhere in the UK: Veterans First Point in Scotland and Veterans NHS Wales. This article explains what it covers, who can access it and how to get started.
What Is Op COURAGE?
Op COURAGE is the NHS’s Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service. It brings together specialist support for people who have served in the UK armed forces, including regular personnel, reservists and those who completed national service. The service covers a wide range of mental health needs, from mild anxiety and low mood to more complex conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
The service is delivered by NHS mental health teams who have specialist knowledge of military life and the challenges that can come with leaving the forces. You do not need to have served for a particular length of time or left under specific circumstances to access support.
What Kind of Support Does It Offer?
Op COURAGE provides a range of options depending on your individual needs. These include talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, support for alcohol and substance use, help for those experiencing crisis or complex trauma, and specialist inpatient care where that is required.
The service also works alongside other veteran support organisations and charities, meaning that if Op COURAGE is not the right fit, the team can help point you towards something more appropriate.
Who Can Use It?
Op COURAGE is open to anyone who has served in the UK armed forces for at least a full day, lives in England and is registered with a GP in England, or is willing and eligible to register with one. It covers those who have recently left and those who served many years ago. Reservists and family members may also be able to access support in some circumstances. You do not need to have been deployed on operations to qualify.
There is no minimum length of service requirement. Whether you served for two years or twenty, the service is available to you.
How Do You Get Referred?
You can refer yourself to Op COURAGE without going through a GP. This is called self-referral and it is the quickest way to get started. You can do this by searching for Op COURAGE on the NHS website (nhs.uk) and following the contact information for your region.
Alternatively, your GP, a mental health professional or another support worker can refer you. If you are already working with a veteran charity or organisation, they may also be able to make a referral on your behalf.
What Happens After You Make Contact?
Once you have made contact, you will usually be offered an initial assessment to talk through what you are experiencing and what kind of support might help. From there, the team will work with you to agree on a plan. This might involve regular therapy sessions, support groups, or signposting to other services.
The process is led by your needs, not by a fixed programme. If your situation changes, the support can be adjusted accordingly.
You Do Not Have to Manage Alone
Many veterans find it difficult to ask for help, particularly when it comes to mental health. Op COURAGE exists precisely because the NHS recognises that people who have served sometimes need a different kind of support, delivered by people who understand military life. There is no requirement to have a diagnosis or a particular set of symptoms before reaching out. If something does not feel right, that is reason enough to make contact and see what support might help.
Support for Families Too
Op COURAGE does not only support veterans directly. Family members can also be affected by the impact of service life and the transition to civilian life, and in some circumstances they may be able to access support themselves, either through Op COURAGE directly or through signposting to appropriate family support services. If you are a partner, parent or family member concerned about a veteran in your life, it is worth getting in touch to ask what support might be available to you as well.
You do not need to wait until things feel unmanageable to reach out. Many veterans find that support is most effective when sought early, before difficulties become more deeply embedded. If you or someone you know is struggling, searching for Op COURAGE on the NHS website and making a self-referral takes only a few minutes and is the quickest way to start the process.