The Commissioner’s Office, in conjunction with Rainbow Bright Training, is currently facilitating a number of mental health and suicide awareness training sessions to members of Royal British Legion branches, Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish Associations.

Many veterans experience poor mental health and reaching out can be difficult because, despite many advances, there is still a stigma attached to the whole area of mental health.

Here in Northern Ireland we have our own bespoke circumstances where many veterans are reliving their lived trauma as they still live in their conflict zone. Research conducted in Northern Ireland by the Mental Health Foundation in 2016 show’s poor mental health is 25% more prevalent than that of England by comparison. What is also interesting to note, further research by the Mental Health Foundation found that young veterans are at a higher risk of suicide in the first 2 years after they leave service.

In this course, participants will learn the following:

–         The factors that contribute to poor mental health, emotional distress, and suicide.

–         The relevance of mental health and emotions to the prevention of suicide.

–         A Mental Health First Responder Connect 4-Ways Model.

–         Tools and resources for support.

–         How to fortify life through self-care.

It is intended that this training programme will support us in our goal to reduce isolation and improve mental health outcomes for veterans and families of veterans through best practice in this field.

The next training sessions will take place on the following dates:

Tandragee Veterans Centre: Friday 21 April 23

Lisburn Royal British Legion: Friday 19 May 23

Limavady Services Club: Friday 9 June 23

If interested in participating in this training, please contact our office via email: commissioner@nivco.co.uk or Telephone: 07971833160