{"id":85147,"date":"2017-10-09T12:15:32","date_gmt":"2017-10-09T12:15:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=8e9f0423da42951bac0f3b799e7a8610"},"modified":"2017-10-09T12:15:32","modified_gmt":"2017-10-09T12:15:32","slug":"speech-defence-secretary-launches-partnership-on-mental-health-and-wellbeing-with-the-royal-foundation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=85147","title":{"rendered":"Speech: Defence Secretary launches partnership on mental health and wellbeing with the Royal Foundation"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

I\u2019m delighted to be here. Warfare\u2019s often seen in terms of battles of the body.<\/p>\n

Today we recognise it\u2019s also about battles of the mind.
\n\u00a0
\nFor those suffering from mental illness the damage trauma inflicts is no less real for being invisible, while the need to address mental, as well as physical shocks, is no less pressing.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not simply that the operational effectiveness of our forces depends on them being healthy, outside and in.<\/p>\n

We have a duty of care to all who lay their lives on the line and a moral obligation to all who support them.<\/p>\n

Now I think it\u2019s true to say that whether families or civilian staff, we\u2019re better at treating mental trauma than we used to be.<\/p>\n

A century ago, in the First World War,\u00a0an anonymous\u00a0medical superintendent at one military hospital in York advised a shell shocked patient \u201cto face his illness in a manly way\u201d.<\/p>\n

Today after 21st century conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq where a lack of safe zones was compounded by the constant threat of roadside IEDs, we no longer expect people to simply \u201cman up\u201d, instead we offer expert help through Defence Medical Services for current personnel and through the NHS for veterans, families and civilians.
\n\u00a0
\nBut with some\u00a02.6 million veterans in the UK many at increased risk of developing mental illness, complacency is not an option.<\/p>\n

Nor can our sole focus be on the frontline<\/p>\n

PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS<\/h2>\n

So part of the reason we\u2019re here today is to promote mental health awareness.<\/p>\n

No current or ex-member of our Armed Forces family should have to keep quiet about their illness for fear of being thought a failure.<\/p>\n

And here I\u2019d like to pay particular tribute to the work of HRH Prince\u00a0Harry.<\/p>\n

As a former serviceman, few understand these matters better.<\/p>\n

He has set an inspirational example in speaking about the challenges he has faced.<\/p>\n

And having used the Invictus Games to draw attention to the physical effects of war he\u2019s now tackling the taboo of mental illness head on.<\/p>\n

And we look forward to hearing from him in a moment.<\/p>\n

Our strategy to address mental health issues, is about more than just raising awareness, important though that is.<\/p>\n

PREVENTION<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s also about prevention.<\/p>\n

Mental health conditions are treatable but we have to be better at spotting the signs<\/p>\n

Better directing people to the right treatment and doing more to help those suffering from everyday stresses and strains to deal with the challenges they face.<\/p>\n

DETECTION<\/h2>\n

Second our plans are about better detection.<\/p>\n

And today\u2019s Royal Foundation Partnership will give individuals the means to identify what\u2019s wrong earlier on and our leaders the practical tools they need to support their colleagues.<\/p>\n

TREATMENT<\/h2>\n

Finally, it\u2019s about better treatment. We\u2019re focused on putting proper treatment in place.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year the\u00a0Prime Minister introduced a package of reforms to improve mental health support throughout a person\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

Our\u00a0Defence People Mental Health and Well-being Strategy builds on those plans for our Whole Force utilising the best evidence based practice and joining the dots between the National Health Service, devolved administrations, key service charities, our own Defence Medical Services and academia to provide a more seamless service.<\/p>\n

Our new Veterans board announced last week will now co-ordinate all veterans-related work right across government and give this work today much needed focus.<\/p>\n

CONCLUSION<\/h2>\n

So let me conclude, before welcoming His Royal Highness by saying that in a 24-hour society, of constant communication, intensifying threats and multiplying daily pressures it\u2019s never been more vital for members of the military to keep mind, body and soul together.<\/p>\n

But by joining forces with them, we can shine the spotlight on these hidden scars of mental illness.<\/p>\n

We can help change the environment long-term.<\/p>\n

We can help combat outdated attitudes and create a culture of well-being, so no member of our Armed Forces Family ever has\u00a0to suffer in silence again.<\/p>\n

Would you please welcome His Royal Highness.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Transcript of Sir Michael Fallon’s speech at the launch of a partnership between the MOD and the Royal Foundation on mental health.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85147"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=85147"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85147\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=85147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=85147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=85147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}