{"value":{"id":648693,"askingMemberId":3940,"askingMember":null,"house":"Commons","memberHasInterest":false,"dateTabled":"2016-11-30T00:00:00","dateForAnswer":"2016-12-02T00:00:00","uin":"55597","questionText":"To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support his Department provides to (a) serving and (b) former members of the armed forces who have mental health problems.","answeringBodyId":11,"answeringBodyName":"Ministry of Defence","isWithdrawn":false,"isNamedDay":false,"groupedQuestions":[],"answerIsHolding":false,"answerIsCorrection":false,"answeringMemberId":1544,"answeringMember":null,"correctingMemberId":null,"correctingMember":null,"dateAnswered":"2016-12-06T00:00:00","answerText":"<p>The Government takes the mental health of the Armed Forces very seriously, and provides a wide range of support and treatments for those who need them. This includes pre and post-operational stress management training, a wide range of psychiatric and psychological treatments, and initiatives such as Trauma Risk Management. We are also working hard to reduce stigma attached to mental health issues and to encourage Service personnel to come forward.</p><p>Personnel leaving the Armed Forces who have had mental health issues during their Service are able to access a Ministry of Defence (MOD) Department of Community Mental Health for up to six months after discharge, to help them during the transition period. The MOD also has a Veterans and Reserves Mental Health Programme which provides mental health assessments for veterans deployed since 1982, and Reservists deployed since 2003.</p><p>Veterans' mental healthcare is primarily the responsibility of the NHS in England and Devolved Administrations. A Veterans' Transition Protocol ensures any Service person discharged with a diagnosed mental health illness is handed over appropriately to the civilian healthcare provider.</p>","originalAnswerText":"","comparableAnswerText":"","dateAnswerCorrected":null,"dateHoldingAnswer":null,"attachmentCount":0,"heading":"Armed Forces: Mental Health","attachments":[],"groupedQuestionsDates":[]},"links":[{"rel":"self","href":"/Questions/648693","method":"GET"}]}