![A lavender armchair in a quiet boot room at first light, with worn boots by the back door and a folded map on the table](https://viacara.com/img/content/veterans-feature-light.webp) # Mental Health Support for Veterans Free NHS mental health help for veterans, reservists and their families, with the route in each UK nation. Most let you get in touch yourself. Each part of the UK has its own route to mental health help for veterans. The services are free, and most let you get in touch yourself. ## Find your route by *nation* **England.** Op COURAGE is the NHS mental health service for veterans, reservists and people leaving the forces. Families can use it too. You can contact it yourself, or a family member or friend can do it for you. [Op COURAGE](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-community/mental-health/veterans-reservists/) Veterans, reservists, service leavers and families England The NHS veterans mental health and wellbeing service, with a team for each region of England. - England, North of England [0300 373 3332](tel:+443003733332) Daily 8am to 8pm - England, The Midlands [0300 323 0137](tel:+443003230137) - England, East of England [0300 034 9991](tel:+443000349991) Daily 8am to 8pm - England, London [020 3317 6818](tel:+442033176818) Weekdays 9am to 5pm - England, South East England [0300 365 2000 (option 4)](tel:+443003652000) Weekdays 9am to 5pm; closed on bank holidays - England, South West England [0300 034 9986](tel:+443000349986) Weekdays 9am to 5pm [Email and contacts by region](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-community/mental-health/veterans-reservists/) To use it, you need to live in England and be registered with a GP, or be willing to register. Have your service number ready when you get in touch. **Scotland.** Veterans First Point offers NHS support to veterans and their families in some areas. NHS inform lists drop-in teams in Ayrshire and Arran, Borders, Fife, Lanarkshire and Tayside. The [NHS inform page](https://www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-and-rights/health-rights/health-rights-for-veterans/healthcare-support-for-veterans/) covers all of Scotland. **Wales.** Veterans' NHS Wales is a priority service for mental health difficulties linked to time in the forces. You can refer yourself, or a GP or veterans' charity can refer you. [Veterans' NHS Wales](https://www.veteranswales.co.uk) Veterans Wales The NHS veterans mental health service for Wales. Each health board has its own team, with its own number on the service's contact page. [Find your local team](https://www.veteranswales.co.uk/contact) **Northern Ireland.** The Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner's Office keeps a list of organisations that support veterans. For mental health, it points to Combat Stress, which has a Belfast office, among others. [Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner's Office](https://www.nivco.co.uk) Veterans and their families Northern Ireland The office that speaks up for veterans in Northern Ireland and points them towards the right support. An office, not a helpline. 9am to 5pm [Call](tel:+442825483169) [Where to get help](https://www.nivco.co.uk/where-to-get-help/) Sources: [NHS: veterans mental health](https://viacara.com/support/veterans/#ref-1), [NHS inform: veterans](https://viacara.com/support/veterans/#ref-3), [Veterans' NHS Wales: overview](https://viacara.com/support/veterans/#ref-4), [NIVCO: where to get help](https://viacara.com/support/veterans/#ref-5) ## Help across the *UK* Combat Stress runs a free helpline for veterans and their families. It is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. [Combat Stress](https://combatstress.org.uk) Veterans and their families A veterans' mental health charity with a free helpline, a text line and email support. 24/7 [Call](tel:+448001381619) [Text](sms:07537173683) [Email](mailto:helpline@combatstress.org.uk) For war pensions, compensation or welfare, Veterans Services is the Ministry of Defence line. [Veterans Services](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-help-from-veterans-services) Veterans The Ministry of Defence line for war pensions, compensation and welfare. - England [0808 1914 218 (option 6)](tel:+448081914218) Weekdays 8am to 4pm; closed on public holidays - Scotland [0808 1914 218 (option 6)](tel:+448081914218) Weekdays 8am to 4pm; closed on public holidays - Wales [0808 1914 218 (option 6)](tel:+448081914218) Weekdays 8am to 4pm; closed on public holidays - Northern Ireland [07387 050564](tel:+447387050564) Weekdays 8am to 4pm; closed on public holidays Sources: [Combat Stress: get help](https://viacara.com/support/veterans/#ref-6), [MOD: veterans services](https://viacara.com/support/veterans/#ref-7) ![The same room in the afternoon, the map unfolded on the table and the back door open to the garden](https://viacara.com/img/content/veterans-mid-light.webp) The specialist service shows you the route. Talking support can walk some of it with you ## Who *counts* as a veteran You may wonder whether these services are meant for you. For Op COURAGE, how long ago you left does not matter, and nor does how long you served. One full day in the UK armed forces is enough. In 2021, almost 1.9m people in England and Wales said they had served in the UK armed forces. The NHS veterans service in England had taken more than 30k referrals by early 2024. If someone close to you served, Op COURAGE and Combat Stress both support families as well. Sources: [NHS: veterans mental health](https://viacara.com/support/veterans/#ref-1), [ONS: veterans census 2021](https://viacara.com/support/veterans/#ref-8), [NHS England: veterans support](https://viacara.com/support/veterans/#ref-2), [Combat Stress: get help](https://viacara.com/support/veterans/#ref-6) ## What we are and what we are *not* We do not yet list a professional with specialist training in military life. The services above do that work, and they are free. A professional found here can help with the rest. That might be low mood, grief or a relationship under strain. If something from your service keeps coming back, read our [trauma and PTSD page](https://viacara.com/support/trauma/). If drinking has become the way you cope, the [alcohol and drugs page](https://viacara.com/support/addiction/alcohol-and-drugs/) lists free services. [Our pages for men](https://viacara.com/support/men/) are for the man who keeps putting help off. You might find talking support useful when: - You are waiting for a specialist appointment and want support in the meantime - Life outside the forces still feels unfamiliar, years after you left - Your partner or family is carrying some of the strain - You are grieving someone you served with - Low mood or poor sleep has settled in and stayed You might find it helps to mention any specialist support you already have. A good professional will work alongside it. ## If things feel *urgent* The [Combat Stress helpline](tel:+448001381619) answers day and night. If you are thinking of ending your life, [our UK crisis page](https://viacara.com/crisis/gb/) lists who to call. Thanks for your interest. We're not taking on new clients at the moment. ## Ready to talk about what *else* is going on? We ask what matters to you, then find professionals who fit. Leave your email and we'll let you know as soon as we're ready for you. This conversation helps us find you the right support. What you share helps us understand what you're looking for and find someone who fits. Your email keeps you updated on what's happening next and isn't shared with anyone we introduce you to. [Privacy policy](https://viacara.com/privacy) [Terms of service](https://viacara.com/terms) ## References 1. National Health Service (2024). *Mental health support for veterans, service leavers and reservists*. [Link](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-community/mental-health/veterans-reservists/) 2. NHS England (2024). *NHS expands mental health support for veterans with more than half saying it's hard to speak up*. [Link](https://www.england.nhs.uk/2024/01/nhs-expands-mental-health-support-for-veterans-with-more-than-half-saying-its-hard-to-speak-up/) 3. NHS inform (2026). *Healthcare support for veterans*. [Link](https://www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-and-rights/health-rights/health-rights-for-veterans/healthcare-support-for-veterans/) 4. Veterans' NHS Wales (2026). *Veterans' NHS Wales*. [Link](https://www.veteranswales.co.uk/) 5. Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner's Office (2026). *Where to get help*. [Link](https://www.nivco.co.uk/where-to-get-help/) 6. Combat Stress (2026). *Get help*. [Link](https://combatstress.org.uk/get-help/) 7. Ministry of Defence (2026). *Get help from Veterans Services*. [Link](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-help-from-veterans-services) 8. Office for National Statistics (2022). *UK armed forces veterans, England and Wales: Census 2021*. [Link](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/armedforcescommunity/bulletins/ukarmedforcesveteransenglandandwales/census2021) ## Related ### [Trauma and PTSD](https://viacara.com/support/trauma/) Trauma can keep a frightening event alive long after it ended. PTSD is common and treatable. Find a professional who works with trauma. ### [Alcohol and Drugs](https://viacara.com/support/addiction/alcohol-and-drugs/) Free NHS and charity services treat drinking and drug problems, and you can refer yourself. Talking support works alongside them, never instead. ### [Low Mood and Depression](https://viacara.com/support/depression/) Low mood that lasts two weeks or more can be a sign of depression. It is common and treatable. Find a professional who works with low mood. ### [Grief Counselling](https://viacara.com/support/grief/) Grief has no timeline. Find a counsellor who can sit with you while you find your way through loss, in your own time and on your own terms. ### [Finding the Right Practitioner](https://viacara.com/guides/finding-a-practitioner/) A practical guide to finding a mental health practitioner who fits your needs, preferences and budget.