Greenwich Hospital has awarded a £250,000 grant to the veterans’ mental health charity Combat Stress to provide specialist treatment and support for former Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Recent research from King’s College London (2024) has revealed a rise in PTSD and Complex PTSD cases among veterans, increasing from 7% to 11% over the past decade, with combat veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan reporting rates as high as 17%. Referrals to Combat Stress continue to rise, with it taking veterans an average of 13 years to seek help from the Charity after leaving the military.
Between April 2023 and March 2024 alone, 120 Royal Navy and Royal Marines veterans received clinical support from Combat Stress, with a total of 950 Royal Navy veterans benefitting from its services to date. Support from Combat Stress also extends to the families of those coping with Complex PTSD.
The funding will help provide access to award-winning treatments, including the VICTOR (Veteran’s Intensive Complex Trauma Organised Recovery) programme, which delivers 24-36 hours of evidence-based therapy for PTSD and CPTSD. A range of clinical outcome measures is used to assess and improve the effectiveness of these interventions; 70% of veterans who complete Combat Stress’ treatment recover from PTSD.
The grant awarded by Greenwich Hospital underscores its commitment to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Royal Navy and Royal Marines veterans, and their families, ensuring they receive the specialist care they need to recover and rebuild their lives.
Deirdre Mills, Director, Greenwich Hospital, said:
“Combat Stress provides a positive lifeline to veterans facing the most severe challenges. This grant represents our commitment to the long-term wellbeing of those who have served and ensures former Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel struggling with the lasting impact of service can access the expert treatment and support they need and deserve.”
Chloe Mackay, Chief Executive, Combat Stress, said:
“We want to thank Greenwich Hospital for their funding support, which will enable us to continue providing life-changing treatment to Royal Navy and Royal Marines veterans living with PTSD and complex PTSD. The demand for our specialist support continues to rise, and this funding will ensure that those who have served their country can access the expert care they need to rebuild their lives.”
