FREE for military veterans and their families. FREE for NHS and Emergency Services Staff
A word from our CEO....... Wendy Scott (MPharm, MRPharmS, PGCertPsycTher)
There is plenty of scientific evidence to show that mindfulness strategies help with relaxation, reduce anxiety, reduce chronic pain and ease mental health worries. Many military and ex-military personnel are reluctant to talk about me
ntal health issues, often due to negative belief systems they hold regarding stigma or being perceived as 'weak'. It doesn't matter whether you have seen active service or not, mental health problems can arise at any time of life and for a multitude of reasons. Mindfulness has robust evidence going back at least 30 years that, when practiced regularly, can 're-wire' the brain to be more resilient and therefore reduce mental health suffering. Indeed, both the UK and USA military are now using these strategies with their serving personnel as mandatory. We provide a non-talking therapy approach for the veteran community and we work hard raising funds to enable this service to be provided for free wherever possible. We have already witnessed the positive effects on the mind, body and spirit of those that have accessed our service; often whilst they are on the NHS waiting list for more formal therapies. There is an epidemic of stress related disorders and depression within the veteran community which causes long term suffering. Waiting lists for the NHS mental health services are long and when a veteran has plucked up the courage to see their GP they face a long and disappointing wait for the next stage to commence. Unfortunately this wait may be too long for some to cope with. It doesn't matter whether you have medication or other mental health support, Wintergreen-UK is here to offer you a holistic package tailored to your needs. This is open-ended and there is currently no waiting list and no restrictions on the number of sessions you commit to. This is very important because mental health problems do not have a timescale and we recognise that you may have relapses along the way. Many veterans only go to the GP when they reach crisis point; this is especially typical of men and there is a disproportionate number of men in the veteran community. With the advent of social prescribing of non-medication options by the NHS in recent years, this seems an ideal opportunity to bring complementary therapies and wellness strategies to the fore. Making this a charitable interest company, ensures a long term commitment and legacy to the veteran community for the whole of Wales and English counties that share their borders with Wales. We have forged a large network of links with veterans charities across the country in order to bring the veterans' communities together. This ensures that ANY veteran, or member of their family, have access to a wide range of bespoke services shared across these charities and CICs. This service is immediately accessible. Whenever we can we will provide a free or subsidised service if you have served in the military. This is not entirely dependant on funding and donations, but these are appreciated. Forging links with the wider civilian community helps us survive financially.
