16.2 |
Support for injured Service Personnel
and veterans
122.
Mr Watson
described the issue of Reservists’ mental health as the “key
finding”
of the
study, advised that the Government was already monitoring the issue
closely
and looking
at possible solutions, and announced that the Government would
introduce
an enhanced
post-operational mental health programme for recently
demobilised
Reservists
later in the year.
123.
Lt Gen
Lillywhite told the Inquiry that there might be several reasons
why
Reservists
might suffer more from mental health issues:
•
less
preparatory training throughout their careers than Regular
Personnel;
•
a less
supportive environment for the families of Reservists than for
Regular
Personnel;
•
a less
robust selection process; and
•
an absence
of “ongoing support from their peers” when Reservists left
the
military
environment and returned to civilian life.83
124.
The King’s
Centre study was extended in 2006 into a second phase (2007
to
2010), and
broadened to include all subsequent Iraq deployments and
deployments
125.
In November
2006, in response to the findings of the King’s Centre study, the
MOD
launched
the Reserves Mental Health Programme (RMHP), to provide enhanced
mental
healthcare
to current and former Reservists who had been demobilised since 1
January
2003
following deployment on an overseas operation.85
126.
The RMHP
provided a mental health assessment and, if appropriate,
out-patient
treatment
at one of the MOD’s Departments of Community Mental Health
(DCMHs).
In‑patient
treatment was provided through the NHS.
127.
The MOD
assessed that there could be, in the worse case, a “backlog” of
680
individuals
(who had been demobilised since 1 January 2003 and who had
concerns
over their
mental health), who would be referred to the RMHP when it
launched.86
Thereafter
the RMHP was expected to receive 75 referrals a year.
128.
A 2011 study
concluded that the RMHP was an effective method of treatment
for
83
Public
hearing, 20 July 2010, pages 60-61.
84
Paper MOD,
29 June 2010, ‘Veterans Mental Health’.
85
Surgeon
General’s Policy Letter 28/06, 21 November 2006, ‘Reservists Mental
Health Programme’.
86
Paper MOD,
25 August 2006, ‘Recently Demobilised Reservists Mental Health
Project: The Proposal
and
Business Process’.
87
N Jones et
al. A Clinical Follow-up Study of Reserve Forces Personnel Treated
for Mental Health
Problems
Following Demobilisation. Journal of
Mental Health 20
(2011).
63