The health and social care experiences of veterans
Summary
Veterans often have unique healthcare needs stemming from their military service, including physical injuries, mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and difficulties navigating civilian healthcare systems.
Only 64% of veterans in England and Wales rate their health as good or very good, compared with 82% of the general public (ONS, 2021).
Veterans shared with us how their experiences serving in the armed forces affected their care needs. They shared how understanding and compassion are essential to their care.
Key findings
- 3.2% of people over 16 in Dudley borough have served in the armed forces.
- Veterans felt that mental health services need to be responsive to the needs of veterans and act quickly, as PTSD and mental health issues can happen at any time following the event and can occur suddenly.
- Peer support from people who have also served in the armed forces helps veterans feel understood and supported.
Working together
This research was carried out with the support of Neil Binder from STEPWAY. He provided us with a warm welcome and facilitated our attendance and discussions with veterans at the breakfast clubs and STEPWAY Well Being Centre. His understanding and warm approach helped veterans to share their experiences with us.
Downloads
If you need the reports in a different format, please email hello@healthwatchdudley.co.uk or call 03000 111 001.
“Veterans are trained in a certain way, they will go into fight, flight or freeze mode due to their training. They need to be treated in a certain way otherwise they will shut down.”
STEPWAY
STEPWAY is a military charity that supports all Veterans and their families in civilian life, no matter their background or circumstance.
