Local scheme to offer female veterans safe space to discuss trauma

The Veterans Integrated Service at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is pioneering a new scheme offering female veterans in eastern England specialised mental health support for trauma experienced during service. This comes as the Armed Forces have been the focus of numerous sexual harassment and discrimination complaints from female veterans - which a specialist task force is now investigating.

Clinical nurse Vicki Bailey says she launched the project after realising just how many female veterans needed help with their mental health, but at the same felt there were barriers to seeking support, particularly while they had still been serving.

So far, around 40 female veterans have come forward to seek help with various mental health issues, though sexual abuse is the most common issue concerning women who have spent time in the Armed Forces.

"Predominantly it has been around military sexual trauma, but it can be around the depression, anxiety, or substance misuse as well," said Ms Bailey.

"We've found… females have not felt comfortable coming forward and speaking to professionals, or being in that environment, because of being in front of male counterparts. If it is military sexual trauma… it might be a triggering space for them, so they don't feel safe.

"We wanted to provide a space so women can feel safe."

Ms Bailey says people suffering from mental health problems typically become socially isolated and push others away, which is why she is offering an open door.

"Any females that have served, no matter what their rank or length of service… they are more than welcome to come and join our groups. The aim is to provide an online social space and a network for female veterans to build on relationships with other female veterans."

Mandy Small, a veteran who served for 12 years in the RAF Police, was one of the first women to use the service.

Her mental health suffered after she was injured in Iraq in 2007.

"I knew I was struggling, something wasn't right within myself," she said.

But she hesitated to seek help while she was still serving.

"I worked in a male-oriented section, I was scared of looking weak, which is completely wrong because the strongest thing you can do is ask for help," she added.

Ms Small eventually realised she had a serious problem after becoming overwhelmed in a crowded supermarket.

"I was absolutely terrified and I left my trolley in an aisle and walked out. I didn't go back into a shop by myself for about 18 months after that," she said.

Ms Small was diagnosed with PTSD, which disrupted her sleep as well as her overall mental health.

"When I did sleep, I was having nightmares," she explained.

"I'm normally extremely laid back, but I was tense, I was angry and I think probably that's what scared me more, because it was like I'd had a full-on personality change." The Trust say the hope is to broaden out the programme to a national level in future to reach even more women who may need support. First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.