DORSET veterans are to benefit from £9m investment in new and improved NHS mental health services.

NHS England has launched a new mental health service which has been specially tailored to support and treat ex-armed forces veterans and service personnel who are approaching discharge.

The newly-commissioned £9m service, known officially as the NHS transition, intervention and liaison (TIL) veterans’ mental health service, will act as a front door to a range of mental health services across the health and care system for more than 17,000 people over the next three years.

It comes following a national questionnaire which sought to gain feedback on how the service was running.

In October 2016, armed forces charity SSAFA, which helped more than 200 people across Dorset last year, launched the ‘Got Your Back’ campaign to help people of working age who were struggling to adapt to civilian life after leaving the army, navy or RAF.

Sally Cadec, chairman of SSAFA Dorset, said: “This funding is warmly welcomed.

“Our volunteers work with various agencies to help ensure the mental health needs of all veterans are met. We are not trained as mental health workers but can assist by ensuring all statutory obligations are met.

“These needs can range from the provision of expert counselling for individuals and/or their families to practical help with securing accommodation or alleviating debt for example.”

The NHS service will provide local care and treatment via different methods, which will include the use of Skype.

Matt Stoodley, an ex Falklands Veteran and user of NHS veterans’ mental health services in the South, said: “Having used the NHS South Central Veterans’ Mental Health Service which TIL replaces, I cannot stress enough the importance of the NHS and military charities, without which the plight of veterans’ mental health would go undiagnosed and not be treated correctly.”

The service has been designed to help recognise some of the early signs associated with mental health difficulties, providing access to several interventions and therapeutic treatments.

It will also help tackle some of the most common mental health issues such as alcoholism, anxiety and depression.

Veterans wanting to contact the NHS service in Dorset, can call 0300 365 0300 or email awp.swveterans@nhs.net.

Dorset veterans and their families who are in need, can also contact SSAFA’s Forcesline, either by Freephone on 0800 731 4880 or by emailing the team via www.ssafa.org.uk/gotyourback