Combat Stress



The Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society, also known as Combat Stress was founded in 1919, just after the end of the First World War.  Over the years it has helped over 85,000 ex-Service men and women cope with their suffering. Currently, there are over 7000 veterans being helped and there is an increasing number of new referrals.


Since the end of the Second World War, the vast majority of the British people have known nothing but peace. But the men and women of our armed forces have been in the front line defending Britain's interests in many operational theatres such as Brunei, Borneo, Indonesia, Malaya, the Falklands and also in the Gulf, more recently they have played a central peace keeping role in the Balkans, Cambodia, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and elsewhere.  Closer to home, many thousands have been involved during the thirty year long campaign in Northern Ireland, an operation that has perhaps been one of the most difficult and dangerous of all.  Each of these conflicts, without exception, has resulted in psychiatric casualties. And for many who are affected, the problems may take years, perhaps decades to surface.


Combat Stress's view is that these men can be helped to cope with their condition through a planned treatment programme.  The care that the veterans receive reflects modern evidence based clinical practice and its work is carried out against a background of an understanding of mental illness, and of the risk of psychological damage to which Service men and women can be exposed during the course of their Service.
 

The veterans that are cared for at Combat Stress suffer from a variety of psychological injuries such as:-

Clinical depression
Raised anxiety states
Phobic disorders
Obsessional Compulsive Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Adjustment disorders
Other stress related conditions

PTSD is now a recognised medical condition and Combat Stress specialises in providing treatment to veterans suffering from this damaging illness.


Ex-Service men and women who consider that they have a problem may approach Combat Stress directly or they may be a referred by a number of different agencies including medical, psychiatric and psychological practitioners or from any Service or ex-Service organisations including The Royal British Legion.  Following each referral one of the Combat Stress's Welfare Officers will make the first home visit. This is a vital task, not least to start the business of building up an understanding of need as well as to give the veteran some confidence that he or she is now with an organisation which cares and will help.  If it is indicated, clinical treatment is then carried out at one of the three Combat Stress treatment centres.


Not all those referred to  the Combat Stress will require, or be suitable for inpatient treatment.  Those veterans or clients from Derbyshire who are suitable for inpatient treatment will be treated at the Audley Court treatment centre in Newport, Shropshire.


Further information on Combat Stress can be found by following the link to Combat Stress



For ex-Service men and women in Derbyshire who require help, contact with Combat Stress can be made through the County Manager or County Welfare Officer on Poppy Support in Derbyshire

or contact

Combat Stress
Audley Avenue
Newport
Shropshire
TF10 7BP

Telephone : 01952 822700
Fax :          01952 811539
Email :
Website :    www.combatstress.org.uk


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