A new specialist service to provide accessible, credible and coordinated support for veterans and their families with life after the armed forces has officially opened in Lanarkshire.

Veterans First Point (V1P) Lanarkshire seeks to support veterans in all aspects of their lives, including welfare, housing, mental and physical well being.

The free to use service – which is part of the community-based focus of Health and Social Care in North and South Lanarkshire – is staffed by a specialist team of psychologists, psychological therapists and veteran peer support workers (PSWs).

The PSWs are all ex-servicemen or women and – crucially – offer a first point of contact for anyone approaching the service.

Dr Nicola Cogan, consultant clinical psychologist of NHS Lanarkshire and V1P explained: “The PSWs ensure that veterans see someone – from the very outset – who understands the military context and has first-hand experience of the issues involved in transition from military to civilian life.

“PSW and clinical staff then work collaboratively, ensuring that veterans receive coordinated support, appropriate to their needs at the time.”

V1P Lanarkshire is a close partnership between veterans, NHS Lanarkshire, the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and the Lanarkshire Association for Mental Health (LAMH). As well as accepting referrals from across Health and Social care, including the voluntary sector, V1P also accepts self-referrals.

Dr Cogan added: “People can contact us by email, phone or can just turn up to one of our access points. We will then arrange a registration appointment with one of our PSWs, where a full assessment of the veteran’s needs will be carried out and an individual plan created.”

V1P will accept self-referrals or referrals from other agencies (statutory and voluntary sector).

For more information phone: 0300 303 3051 or Email: LanarkshireV1P@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk

CLICK HERE to watch a film on the service.