Mental Health & Family Support for the Armed Forces Community

If you’re serving, a veteran, reservist or part of a military family, emotional strain, relationship pressure or family challenges can build up at any stage of service life or transition.

This page helps you understand:

• What mental health and family support is available
• Which services are best for different situations
• How to decide what type of support to use next

All services listed on Troopr are Forces-friendly, meaning they understand military life, culture and the challenges that come with it.

Why Mental Health & Family Support Matters in the Armed Forces Community

Military life places unique demands on individuals and families — including frequent relocation, long periods of separation, transition to civilian life and, for some, bereavement or trauma.

Accessing Forces-friendly support can help with:

• Managing stress, anxiety, PTSD or emotional burnout
• Navigating family pressures linked to service or transition
• Improving communication and relationship resilience
• Supporting children and partners through change or loss
• Rebuilding routine, confidence and wellbeing after service

Key Mental Health & Counselling Support Services

Family & Relationship Counselling

Best for:
Couples and families experiencing strain linked to service life, deployment, separation, or transition out of the Armed Forces. Some Forces-friendly organisations provide funded or subsidised counselling, delivered by qualified relationship counsellors who understand military pressures.

This support typically includes:

• Structured, time-limited counselling sessions
• Support for couples, individuals and families
• Eligibility criteria depending on service background

Good to know:
Relate delivers relationship and family counselling funded by service charities.

For example:

• The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) covers the cost of up to six counselling sessions for Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel and their families.
• The RAF Benevolent Fund funds relationship counselling, mediation and sex therapy for RAF serving personnel, veterans, reservists and their partners.

This support provides a confidential, supportive environment to discuss challenges, improve communication and strengthen relationships.

Specialist Bereavement and Mental Health Support

Best for:
Families and children affected by the death of a serving person or veteran. Specialist Armed Forces charities offer long-term, tailored bereavement support, rather than one-off interventions.

Support may include:

• Emotional wellbeing support for children and young people
• Social and peer activities to reduce isolation
• Confidence-building, education and resilience programmes

Examples of Forces-friendly bereavement support include:

• Scotty’s Little Soldiers, providing ongoing support to bereaved military children and young people aged 0–25
• SSAFA, offering emotional, practical and financial support to bereaved Armed Forces families
• Specialist youth counselling is available for children and young people in RAF families, delivered by Relate. The service supports a wide range of wellbeing and mental health challenges, including anxiety, low mood, behavioural issues, family change, bullying, self-esteem and academic pressure. Support is confidential and tailored to the needs of young people affected by service life.
• 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.

How to Decide What to Use Next

If you’re unsure where to start, use this simple guide:

• Need to talk to someone privately?
  → See one-to-one mental health support services
• Relationship or family under strain?
  → Check Forces-friendly counselling options
• Wellbeing slipping but not at crisis point?
  → Browse wellbeing and lifestyle support services
• Child or family affected by bereavement?
  → Find specialist bereavement support for military families
  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What counts as Forces-friendly mental health support?
Forces-friendly support includes services that understand military life and culture, whether provided by charities, NHS programmes or community organisations tailored to the Armed Forces community.

Who can access this support?
Most services support serving personnel, veterans, reservists and military families. Eligibility varies, so always check each provider’s criteria.

Do I need a GP referral?
Many Forces-friendly services offer direct access without a GP referral, particularly through charities and community organisations.

Is support confidential?
Yes. Counselling and emotional support services are delivered confidentially by trained professionals.

Can children and partners access support too?
Yes. Some services are designed specifically for families, partners and children, including specialist bereavement support.

Is there a cost?
Some support is free or charity-funded; others may involve a small fee. Always check costs and eligibility before signing up.