We work closely with health and military partners to deliver the Op COURAGE specialist mental health service, which has helped hundreds of veterans since 2017.
In April this year, we celebrated the first year of the expanded East of England Op COURAGE Veterans Integrated Mental Health Service.
The expanded team includes experts working in psychiatry, psychology, occupational therapy, mental health nursing, as well as employment specialists and support workers.
All either have a military background, or experience of working with people in the armed forces, so we can provide care tailored to their unique needs.
They support veterans and their families in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Milton Keynes.
Speaking ahead of Armed Forces Day (Saturday 29 June), Liana Basham, EPUT’s Regional Lead for East of England Op COURAGE, said: “After leaving EPUT in 2021, I joined the Ministry of Defence to work within the British military bases in Cyprus.
“Living behind the wire, and providing mental health care and psychotherapy to serving personnel and their families gave me a greater understanding of the unique experiences that the armed forces community have.
“Although I miss the sun, the scuba diving, and the Typhoon jets flying overhead daily, I am pleased to be back in EPUT and to be able to use that military experience within the Op COURAGE service.
“In the year ahead, Op COURAGE aims to build stronger relationships with other NHS teams and community organisations across the east of England, to help ensure we are providing the most effective healthcare experience to our veterans, service leavers, and their families.”
EPUT delivers the service alongside Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, St Andrew’s Healthcare, Mental Health Matters, and the military charities The Warrior Programme and Walking With The Wounded.
EPUT is also a Veteran Aware Trust, holds gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme and is signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant.
These recognise the Trust’s commitment to offering the best possible service to the armed forces community and to supporting the recruitment of ex-armed forces personnel, members of the armed forces and their partners.
EPUT currently employs 33 members of staff who are veterans or reservists.