©RAF Association
FOR RAF FAMILIES F
amilies of serving RAF personnel can benefit from new training to spot mental health issues, thanks to the RAF Association.
The charity has received two grants from the Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s ‘Mental Health Promotion Fund’ and the Postcode Community Trust to launch the programme, which began at RAF Coningsby in February.
Adult Mental Health Aware Half Day is the first course to be offered to the partners and spouses of serving RAF personnel and civilian staff contracted to work on stations. The Association recognises the vital role families play in identifying and understanding mental health issues and the course provides the understanding and supporting skills to implement practical support
Teachers of children whose parents serve in the RAF at schools local to the stations, can also take advantage of the programme.
3.1% of UK Armed Forces personnel were assessed with a mental disorder at MOD Specialist Mental Health Services in 2017-18*
RAF Association area director,Ailsa Gough has been on the course and spoke of her own experiences. She said: “We feel it’s important to provide support to the families of those serving their country in the RAF and therefore, are delighted to have received this vital funding.
“I have experienced one of the workshops myself and, in my voluntary role as aBefriender to an RAF veteran, it has given me abetter understanding of how Ican help people in need.”
The RAF Association successfully piloted the course at RAF Benson and RAF Valley in 2017 with participants saying they had abetter understanding of issues affecting people and the signs to look out for.
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTTRAINING 32
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE: Handling Instruction: Limited circulation until 0930 on 21 June 2018 - OFFICIAL thereafter. % 2 % % % % % 4 30 r % % 28
Mental Disorders 3.1%
r r N
Delivery of training courses will begin at RAF Coningsby before expanding to afurther 10 stations throughout the year:
RAF Benson RAF Brize Norton RAF Cosford RAF Cranwell RAF Leeming RAF Odiham RAF Scampton RAF Shawbury RAF Valley RAF Waddington
For further information, personnel need to contact their station’s Community Development Officer or family members can call the RAF Association on 0800 018 2361.
*UK armed forces mental health: 2017/18: infographic
-gov.uk/government/statistics/uk- armed-forces-mental-health-annual-statistics-financial-year-201718
”Ihave experienced one of the workshops myself and, in my voluntary role as aBefriender to
an RAF veteran, it has given me abetter understanding of how Ican help people in need”
SPRING 2019
raf-ff.org.uk
ENVOY
of UK Armed Forces personnel were assessed with amental disorder at MOD Specialist Mental Health Services in 2017-18
6.1% of females 2.9% of RoyalNavy 2.2% of RoyalMarines
3.1% of ArmyofRAF
3.2%
of males 2.7%
r % % 6 o % %
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MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR RAF FAMILIES
HEALTH & WELLBEING
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