After baking her way to victory in last year’s Channel 4 Great British Bake Off, winner Sophie Faldo from Surrey is now helping to raise awareness of veterans’ mental health by becoming an ambassador for Combat Stress.
In December last year she visited Combat Stress, the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health, at their treatment centre in Leatherhead, Surrey, to find out how the charity supports former servicemen and women.
Sophie is a former Army officer and served with the Royal Artillery in Afghanistan.
She said: “Combat Stress is a fantastic charity, doing amazing work with veterans to help them overcome their mental health problems. I’m really happy to become an ambassador for the charity and look forward to helping them raise more awareness of veterans’ mental health.”
Sue Freeth said:
“We are thrilled that Sophie has become an ambassador for the charity. Her career in the Army means that she understands the challenges many of our veterans have faced, and why they continue to be affected long after battle.
“With Sophie’s support we can reach more veterans struggling with their mental health. We’ll also be able to raise more money to deliver our specialist clinical treatment that helps former servicemen and women rebuild their lives.”
ENDS
For more information please contact Nicola Hudson, PR and Communications Officer, on 01372 587165 / 07711 590259 or at nicola.hudson@combatstress.org.uk.
Notes to editors:
Combat Stress is the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health.
For almost a century we’ve helped former servicemen and women deal with issues like trauma, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Over the past five years (2012 to 2017) we have seen an average of more than 2,000 referrals each year. Demand for our services continues to grow – we have seen a 143% increase in referrals from ten years ago.
On average it takes 12 years after leaving the military for veterans to contact Combat Stress for help, by which time their condition is often highly complex. However, veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts are coming to Combat Stress much sooner (three and four years respectively).
To help veterans rebuild their lives, we provide a range of free services:
- Short-stay clinical treatment at our treatment centres in Ayrshire and Surrey
- A specialist Intensive Treatment Programme – delivered at our treatment centres
- Community Teams – providing treatment and practical support to veterans. Last year our regional community teams undertook almost 5,400 face-to-face appointments
- Outpatients – assessment by psychiatrists and psychologists – at our treatment centres and in the community – enables us to diagnose, define and deliver the treatment veterans require
- Occupational therapy – delivered at our treatment centres and in the community, we use meaningful and creative activity to encourage hope, wellbeing and recovery
- Peer Support Service – Led by veterans for veterans, it’s the first UK-wide service of its kind for those with mental health problems. The service enables them to share their experiences, receive support and socialise with others with similar experiences.
- Substance Misuse Case Management Service – helping veterans to access the services for their drug and alcohol problems so their mental health issues can be addressed
- Our 24-hour Helpline is there for veterans, serving personnel and their families (0800 138 1619)
Useful links
Our website: combatstress.org.uk
On Twitter: @CombatStress
On Facebook: facebook.com/CombatStress
On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/combat-stress
Combat Stress, Registered Charity 206002; Registered Charity in Scotland SC038828; Company Ltd by guarantee: 256353.
