Focus On: Armed Forces Charities' Mental Health Provision

Forces In Mind Trust and the Directory of Social Change present Focus On: Armed Forces Charities’ Mental Health Provision.

This report follows on from DSC’s Sector Insight reports on UK armed forces charities, a series which DSC has been publishing since 2014. Building on these broader studies, the Focus On series exists to provide a more specific analysis of the work of armed forces charities across the UK — in this case, those who are making provision for mental health support.

Illuminating Britain’s armed forces charity sector

This report provides an overview of the mental health provision made by armed forces charities registered across the UK, focusing on:

• Categorisation of ‘Primary’ and ‘Secondary’ providers
• Insights into expenditure on mental health provision
• Collaboration, evaluation and standards of practice
• Differences in clinical and non-clinical service delivery
• Insight into charities’ standards of practice
• Analysis of topics of mental health support
• Conclusions and recommendations

This is a unique resource for charities, government, policymakers and researchers to understand what armed forces charities deliver in terms of their mental health provision. This subject area has been thoroughly explored to provide a body of evidence and insightful analysis which informs of policy, practice and research.

Key findings

• 76 charities make provision for mental health which represents 7% of all armed forces charities
• 91% of charities support veterans, 71% support serving personnel and their spouses/partners respectively
• 75% of charities provide treatment for PTSD, 57%  for depression and anxiety and 43% for substance misuse
• Counselling is the most common method of treatment, offered by 45% of charities
• Charities help an estimated 7,000 to 10,000 beneficiaries per year
• Charities spend over £28million providing mental health services per year
• 19% of charities provide clinical services

Ray Lock CBE, Chief Executive FiMT says:

‘It is only right that we invest in credible, independent evidence, such as this report, so that our efforts and resources are deployed where they are most needed, and where they can have the greatest positive effect.’ 

Debra Allcock Tyler, Chief Executive Directory of Social Change says:

‘We are very fortunate to have so many brilliant forces charities in the UK, and it is vital that we continue to illuminate and celebrate their work.’   

To download the free report and infographics click here.           

To find out more about DSC’s armed forces research and search our extensive database of armed forces charities visit www.armedforcescharities.org.uk 

Follow us on Twitter @forcescharities