Veterans Mental Health Advisory Group
Overview
This group was established in March 2024 to provide collaborative engagement and oversight to the veterans mental health and wellbeing pathway implementation by offering expert advice and guidance on strategic direction and a proposed model of delivery. The group will take account of work already undertaken to date.
The advisory group will run from March 2024 to March 2025 unless agreed otherwise during the term. Periodic reviews will take place to assess the effectiveness of the group, membership and key areas of focus.
It will primarily focus on the priority commitments within the veterans mental health and wellbeing action plan and the sustainable governance arrangements required to operate an effective veterans mental health and wellbeing pathway.
Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Stakeholder Network
This subgroup will bring together statutory and third sector organisations and veterans from across all sectors and areas of Scotland.
The primary focus of the network will be as follows:
- to utilise the local intelligence held by organisations and veterans to establish a clear position on the current provision of mental health services for veterans across Scotland
- to share practice and models of service delivery to consider where there is shared learning and opportunities to improve services and contribute to equitable access to services across all areas of Scotland
- to consider the regional and local variations which will be required to service delivery models to ensure successful implementation and delivery
- to provide views and feedback on any proposed models of delivery produced by the advisory group and/or operational group
- to identify the most appropriate and representative individuals/organisations for membership of the operational group
Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Operational Group
This subgroup will review the proposed implementation plan and model of delivery produced by the advisory group and consider the local arrangements required to enact the Veterans Mental Health Advisory Board Implementation Plan to ensure equal and improved access to mental health services for veterans across Scotland.
The operational working group will primarily focus on the priority commitments within the veterans mental health and wellbeing action plan and the sustainable governance arrangements required to operate an effective whole systems veterans mental health and wellbeing pathway in equitable ways across Scotland.
Membership of the group will consist of individuals representing organisations and networks who are responsible for providing mental health services and support to veterans, as well as those with lived experience. Members will be identified who represent a wide range of services and organisations from across Scotland and will represent statutory and third sector clinical and non-clinical services and veterans from diverse backgrounds. The group will consist of approximately 10 members as well as two independent co-chairs and secretariate provided by Scottish Government.
The group will meet bi-monthly and report directly to the advisory group.
Related groups
Members
- Lynne Taylor, Principal Psychology Advisor – Scottish Government
- Jacqueline Berry, Allied Health Professionals/Occupational Therapy Lead, NHS Grampian
- Jennifer Borthwick, Director of Psychological Services and Head of Clinical Services, NHS Forth Valley
- Thelma Bowers, Mental Health Lead for HSCP in Ayrshire and Arran
- David Dent MBE, Vice President (Global Head of Integrated Strategy) Clinical Research, Board Advisor Help for Heroes, Trustee RBLI, Professor (Hon), former Army Nurse, Lecturer RDMC, and CISD practitioner and mental health 1st aider, War Disabled Veteran
- Vicky Henderson, Aberdeenshire HSCP
- Linda Irvine Fitzpatrick, Strategic Programme Manager, NHS Lothian
- Lindsay Kirkwood, V1P Ayrshire and Arran Clinical Lead
- Linda McAuslan, Lead Nurse Psychological Therapies/Adult Psychological Therapies Manager, NHS Forth Valley
- Kari Magee, Veterans’ Lived Experience Group
- Gerri Matthews-Smith, Director of the Edinburgh Napier University Centre for Military Research, Education and Public Engagement/Scottish Armed Forces Evidence and Research (SAFE and R) HUB
- Theresa Mitchell, Head of Hidden Wounds, Help for Heroes
- Dougie Morgan, Fighting with Pride LGBT+ Military Charity
- Neil Morrison OBE JP, Health and Wellbeing Lead, Veterans Scotland
- Julie Murray, Chief Officer, East Renfrewshire HSCP; and Secretary of the Chief Officer Group for Health and Social Care Scotland
- Jenny Pope, Deputy Director of Workforce NHS Golden Jubilee
- Michelle Ramage, V1P Tayside Clinical Lead
- Robert Reid, Defence Medical Welfare Service
- Jennifer Ring, V1P Lanarkshire Clinical Lead
- Caroline Robertson, Head of Operations for Scotland, Combat Stress
- Tommy Watson, Walking with the Wounded
- Pauline Winchester, Midlothian Local Authority Armed Forces and Veterans Champion
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