Mental Health & Wellbeing

Armed Forces Community HQ can support you, your family or carer with any concerns you may have for your mental health and wellbeing. Following an initial screening assessment, or triage, we will agree a plan of action with you and recommend targeted interventions as necessary. Depending on your needs, you will either be able to self-refer or be supported with one of our Wellbeing Navigators or Peer Mentors. 

Please note AFCHQ does not provide crisis mental health support. If you are in immediate need, we would recommend speaking first with your GP, NHS Op COURAGE or presenting at A&E.

Counselling

AFCHQ has a small team of qualified mental health therapists that can provide a range of person centred treatment including talking therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Rewind Therapy, and relationship counselling. We aim to facilitate a safe space for you to talk and explore difficult feelings and thoughts you may be having, with therapists that have lived experience of serving in the Armed Forces. Our team is here to support you and respect your views, and aim to help you find your own insight and understanding of your problems to learn to live a more fulfilling life. 

We can also provide support in accessing services through our partners, making clinical referrals or helping you to self-refer. This might also include providing interventions whilst you are waiting to access other treatment, or identifying specialist services such as substance misuse, learning disabilities, or complex needs. 

Physical & Mental Wellbeing

Following the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’, AFCHQ offers a wide range of activities and events which will help improve your physical and mental wellbeing.

• Connect

At Molyneux House, Wigan, we offer a drop-in service and everyone is welcome. Our doors are open Monday to Friday, 0900 to 1700, where you will be warmly greeted by the team. Membership is free, and provides access to our regular timetable of activities which can be found here – there’s something for everyone! The NAAFI Cafe, our social enterprise cafe, runs every Monday and Friday, and volunteers are always on hand to welcome newcomers.

• Be active

Regular physical activity is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety across all age groups. We have a regular walking group and football team for all abilities, and also have a Community Garden. For the more adventurous, we can provide access to a qualified Personal Trainer to develop a bespoke fitness programme and have links with local partners for access to an Armed Forces gym, climbing and a hiking club. 

• Take notice

Working with our Wellbeing Navigators and Peer Mentors, you can enhance your self-understanding and make positive choices based on your own values and motivations. We can provide tips and guidance on how to be more mindful of your thoughts, feelings, your body and the world around you. 

• Learn

Learning new skills can improve your wellbeing by boosting self-confidence and raising self-esteem, helping you to build a sense of purpose, and helping you to connect with others. This could range from formal training to support your education and employment goals, to trying something new and creative.

• Give

Acts of giving and kindness can be small, like spending times with friends and family, or larger ones like volunteering. This can create positive feelings and a sense of reward and self-worth. Research shows that one act of kindness, once a week over a six-week period is associated with an increase in wellbeing. We have many opportunities to give back to the community through our volunteering roles, which include befriending/mentoring, helping out around the HQ, or the Veterans Maintenance Service.

Primary & Secondary Care

Navigating the NHS can be difficult to understand, and our team can support you with everything from signing up to a Veteran Friendly accredited GP, to understanding how to access the Veteran Trauma Network. We work closely with colleagues across the NHS to champion the needs of the Armed Forces community, and help you get the treatment you need.