AN INITIATIVE to help veterans and serving personnel overcome mental health issues has been backed by Richmond MP, Rishi Sunak.

Armed Forces Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) run courses for people in the forces community on how to spot the symptoms of mental health, provide initial help and guide sufferers to the appropriate help.

The MP pledged his support for the courses after a briefing at the House of Lords recently attended by politicians, veterans and high-ranking officers, who heard about the thousands of serving and former military personnel who had already benefitted from the courses.

Mr Sunak said: “Members of our Armed Forces put their lives on the line for our country and as a nation we have a moral duty to look after them and their families.

“The courses are very valuable in helping the forces community identify individuals who may be at risk and ensure their get the professional help they need.

“I hope the Government will be to continue its support for the programme.”

Mr Sunak was invited to attend the briefing by Angela Wall, an approved Armed Forces MHFA instructor based near Northallerton.

She runs regular courses in Catterick, North Yorkshire, as well as in the North-East.

She said: “The course is the mental health equivalent of physical first aid training and provides participants with the skills and confidence to be able to recognise common mental health problems and guide a person toward the right support."

The Armed Forces MFHA programme was launched in 2013.

Ms Wall said exposure to combat could be a significant risk factor for poor mental health and military personnel were more likely to report mental health issues than the general population.

She added: “A clear message from the course is that early intervention works and our aim is to help reduce the stigma by increasing mental health literacy in participants who become 'Mental Health First Aiders' as a result of the training.

“They take back the information and cascade it through their workplaces, their contacts and often their own nearest and dearest.”

Anyone from within the Armed Forces community, including family members and support staff is eligible to attend the two day training. More information can be found at www.mhfaengland.org or by contacting Angela Wall at angela@awa2001.fsnet.co.uk or 07899-910965.

Courses are available for individuals or organisations from the general public.