Ex-Military Mental Health Support: How Veterans and Families Can Access Help in Civvy Street
14 Oct 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Health & Wellbeing Support for Veterans and Families
Health and wellbeing support for veterans in the UK includes NHS priority care, dedicated mental health services, family and relationship support, fitness and recovery programmes, and welfare benefits provided by charities and councils. Whether you’re adjusting to civilian life, managing service-related injuries, or looking after your family’s wellbeing, Troopr brings all the options together in one place.
Mental Health & Psychological Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing affects every part of the Armed Forces community. Serving personnel may face stress from operational demands or injury. Reservists juggle pressures from two careers. Veterans can carry the legacy of trauma or struggle with the transition to civilian life. Families often absorb these pressures too, dealing with separation, anxiety, and the impact of PTSD at home.
Support is available at every stage: NHS Talking Therapies, Op COURAGE for veterans, and counselling services through both charities and the MOD. Charities such as Combat Stress and Help for Heroes offer clinical treatment and therapy, while online platforms like Togetherall give 24/7 peer support for anyone connected to the Forces. Families can also access services such as Relate Armed Forces for couples and family counselling.
NHS & Government Healthcare for Veterans
Everyone in the Armed Forces community, serving personnel, reservists, veterans and families, has access to NHS care, but there are additional services and entitlements depending on your circumstances.
For serving personnel, primary healthcare is usually provided through the Defence Medical Services (DMS). Families access the NHS in the usual way, though some areas also have Armed Forces community healthcare teams who understand the unique pressures of military life. Reservists use standard NHS services, but with support available when their training or deployment affects their health.
For veterans, there are dedicated pathways built into the NHS:
•Op COURAGE: The NHS veterans’ mental health and wellbeing service, offering assessment, therapy and ongoing care.
• Op RESTORE: The NHS Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service supports veterans with service-attributable physical illness and injury, helping them access expert NHS care and rehabilitation.
• Priority treatment: Veterans are entitled to priority access for conditions caused by their time in service.
Military Family & Relationship Support
Life in the Armed Forces isn’t just a job, it’s a way of life that affects the whole family. From frequent moves to long deployments, military families face unique pressures. The good news? There’s a strong network of welfare, health, and relationship support designed to help you thrive.
The MOD, NHS and a wide range of charities offer everything from practical guidance on housing, finance and childcare to specialist emotional support for partners, children and extended family. Welfare teams and independent family federations are on hand to give trusted advice, while services like Op COURAGE provide mental health support tailored to the Armed Forces community.
Spouses and partners can tap into career programmes, training and grants, while many charities offer hands-on help during life’s tougher moments — whether that’s separation, bereavement or legal challenges.
Addiction & Recovery Services
Addiction can affect anyone, and military life brings its own pressures that can make recovery more complex. Veterans, serving personnel and families have access to specialist NHS services, peer support and dedicated recovery programmes tailored to the Armed Forces community.
Support includes mental health and addiction services, confidential counselling, detox and rehabilitation programmes, and family support to help loved ones navigate the impact of addiction together.
Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or someone close to you, expert recovery support is available - and you’re not alone.
Physical Health, Fitness & Recovery
Staying active is a huge part of military life — and that doesn’t have to stop after service. Veterans and military families can tap into specialist NHS support, rehabilitation services and local fitness opportunities to stay healthy and recover well.
Alongside treatment for injuries, prosthetics and rehabilitation, there’s help to find local gyms, sports facilities and fitness schemes that offer discounts and special access for the Armed Forces community. Families can get involved too, with activities and resources designed to keep everyone moving.
Whether you’re rebuilding strength or looking for new ways to stay fit, there’s support out there to help you do it.
Financial & Welfare Wellbeing
Health and money are often connected. Serving personnel may receive support through MOD welfare teams when illness or injury impacts service. Reservists have protections in law to balance employment and duty. Veterans may qualify for financial support through the War Pension Scheme or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS). Families caring for injured service members can also access grants and support from charities.
Wellbeing isn’t just about medical treatment, it’s about ensuring the whole household is supported when health affects income or stability.
Community & Peer Support
One of the strongest sources of support across the Armed Forces community is each other. Whether you’re serving, a reservist, a veteran, or a family member, being connected to peers who “get it” can be as important as formal healthcare.
Across the UK, there are Armed Forces hubs, drop-in centres, and community groups that provide safe spaces to talk, share experiences and build friendships. Many GPs now use social prescribing to link veterans and families with these community resources.
These networks are about more than socialising, they play a vital role in reducing isolation, supporting recovery, and creating a sense of belonging.
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