Feb 07 2021 16 mins
Vodka helps with post-traumatic stress disorder, so says a soldier. So does being listened to. But which works best?
Written by Matt Fox
Directed by Caitlin Ince
Performed by Matt Gibbs
NHS Mental Health resources for serving personnel
NHS Mental Health resources for Veterans:
To access your local service, contact the Veterans' Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liasion Service (TILS)
You can contact the service direct or ask a GP or military charity to refer you.
Contact details are below
- In the North of England, call 0303 123 1145 or email [email protected]
- In the Midlands or East of England, call 0300 323 0137 or email [email protected]
- In London or the South East of England, call 020 3317 6818 or email [email protected]
- In the South West of England, call 0300 365 2000 or email [email protected]
Resources for Families, Welfare and Support:
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA): The SSAFA is the national charity supporting service personnel, veterans and their families. SSAFA offers support to the community, whether at home, overseas or in an operational environment.
Phone: 0800 731 4880
Families federations: The 3 Service Families Federations (Naval Families Federation https://nff.org.uk/ , Army Families Federation https://aff.org.uk/ and Royal Air Force Families Federation https://www.raf-ff.org.uk/) are the independent voices of service families.
Each offers independent and confidential advice on a range of issues and works to improve the quality of life for service families. They regularly engage with the chain of command, local authorities and government to represent the views of armed forces families.
Mental Health Resources:
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably. A charity providing a mental health helpline and webchat.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (Daily-5pm to midnight)
Website: www.thecalmzone.net
SAMARITANS: Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
Website: www.samaritans.org.uk
No Panic: Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia or OCD.
Phone: 0300 772 9844 (daily 10am-10pm) Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider's Access Charge
Website: www.nopanic.org.uk
Email: [email protected]
Drinkline: A Free, confidential helpline for people worries about their own or someone else's drinking. Phone: 0300 123 1100 (weekdays 9am-8pm, weekends 11am-4pm)