Policy and provision of welfare and mental
health issues
Within the Armed Forces there is a requirement
to secure the well being of its personnel and their dependent
families both in the UK and overseas. Such provision includes
a wide range of operational and non-operational welfare support,
which ultimately contributes to operational effectiveness. The
Armed Forces Welfare Policy is set out in the Armed Forces Overarching
Personnel Strategy and consists of a series of principles including:
recognition that the provision of welfare support to dependent
families is a key factor in the wellbeing of the serving person;
providing fully resourced operational welfare packages; providing
confidential specialist welfare support; and providing broadcasting
and retail facilities for Service personnel and their dependants.
The MoD also has a legal obligation to care for the wellbeing
of recruits and trainees. The implementation of the Unit Supervisory
Care Directive within Defence Phase 1 and Phase 2 Training establishments
ensures that Commanding Officers are directly responsible for
ensuring a pragmatic supervisory care regime is in place for the
recruits or trainees, including those on Holdover Awaiting training
within his/her establishment. This Welfare policy is closely linked
with Armed Forces policies on health, spiritual, moral and pastoral
policy, sport and recreation, families and bereaved families.
In the UK, all regular Service personnel (including
those under training) are able to access healthcare, including
mental healthcare services through their unit medical officer.
Additionally personnel at all levels are trained to recognise
signs and symptoms of conditions such as stress. Through their
Medical Officer, personnel can access trained mental health professionals
at our Departments of Community Mental Health, which are based
at a number of military units across the country. Should in-patient
treatment be required, personnel would be treated as appropriate
through the MoD's contract with the Priory Group.
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