Op COURAGE is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, armed forces veterans and their families.

• supporting you with intensive emergency care and treatment if you’re in a crisis
• helping you transition from military to civilian life by providing mental health care with Defence Medical Services (DMS)
• supporting armed forces families affected by mental health problems, including helping you access local services
• helping you recognise and treat early signs of mental health problems as well as more advanced mental health conditions and psychological trauma
• helping you to access other NHS mental health services if you need them, such as finding an NHS talking therapies service and eating disorder services
• helping you get in touch with charities and local organisations who can support your wider health and wellbeing needs, such as housing, relationships, finances, employment, drug and alcohol misuse and social support.

To receive help and support from Op COURAGE, you must:

• be a resident in England and have served in the UK armed forces for a full day
• be registered with a GP practice in England or be willing and eligible to register with a GP
• provide your military service number

It does not matter how long ago you left the armed forces. You can contact Op COURAGE even if you left many years ago.

You can also contact Op COURAGE if you are still serving but have a discharge date.

You can contact the service in many ways, including:

• directly getting in touch yourself, or through a family member or friend
• asking a GP to refer you
• asking a charity to refer you

The service will arrange for you to have an assessment, to make sure you get the right care and support.

It is important to contact the Op COURAGE for your local area. This allows them to give you the best support they can provide.