THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP
THE DEFENCE GARDENS SCHEME WITH BROOKE HOUSE HEALTH AND WELLBEING CENTRE AT COLEBROOKE PARK WALLED GARDEN The Background
18 months.”
The Northern Ireland Veterans Support In 2019, the House of Commons Defence SelectCommitteeidenti4edastarkgapO]ce in (NVSO)wasestablishedin2018, to developstrongworkinglinksbetween the provision of mental health support for devolved government departments, local armed forces personnel and their families’ government veterans’ champions, and the voluntaryandcharitablesector.twasalso In Northern Ireland, less than a decade ago,therewasconsideredtobeavacuum tasked with delivering the Armed Forces Covenant, with a coordinated approach in in regard to the mental health welfare needsofarmedforcesveterans.Astudyby support of veterans and their families. Queen’s University Belfast, also recognised that there was indeed a lack of support and The Solution coordination in this area. LordBrookeboroughofColebrookePark Jane*, a female armed forces veteran, aged in Co Fermanagh had served in the Ulster thirty, who had served in Afghanistan and Defence Regiment and the Royal Irish RegiwassueringfromPTSD,said-When ment, and he was aware of and recognised tried to access counselling through the NHS, thecomplexmentalhealthissuesaecting I was told there was an 18-month waiting armed forces veterans. list.toldmyfamilynottoevenbother - put tingmeonthelist,aswouldntbeherein BrookeHouseHealthandWellBeingCentre
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