Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Pathway – National Framework

8. Veteran Voice

Listening to the veteran community’s voice has been fundamental to developing a Framework that will meet the mental health and wellbeing needs of our veterans.

Veterans Link Scotland (VLS), which is a group of veterans with lived experience, have fed into various elements of the Framework, as well as informing the design of the forthcoming Pathway. VLS has highlighted current barriers, as well as enablers, which would encourage veterans to seek help. Key elements include:

• Clear, accessible information on available services, eligibility, waiting time expectations, and self-management resources;
• Ongoing engagement with veterans, families and communities to surface barriers and co-produce solutions;
• Multiple entry routes including self-referral and third-party referral;
• Recognition that a single digital point of access must be complemented by non-digital options;
• Trauma-informed matching to the right support which minimises repetition and facilitates smooth transitions between services;
• Reasonable adjustments for veterans experiencing digital poverty, rural isolation, or other barriers, and;
• Access to support from those that understand military service.

The full feedback from VLS can be found at Annex B.