Mental health and physical health are closely interlinked, and both need attention for us to thrive.
Mental health problems can affect our feelings, our moods, our thinking and our behaviour. Most veterans and ex-service personnel have good mental health and wellbeing, but some do experience issues
Most typically these are common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, sometimes issues with alcohol and other substances, and occasionally Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
These issues can range in complexity and severity and can be caused by factors before, during or after their service. Other common issues include stress, emotional problems, grief, and relationship problems.
Veterans and ex-service personnel are thought to have lower psychological treatment rates than the general population as a result of several factors including percieved internal stigma, a lack of knowledge of available supports and concerns about confidentiality.
Brooke House Health & Wellbeing Centre aims to provide a range of psychological supports in order to maximise the Health and Wellbeing of our clients and their families.
Interventions are focused on individuals’ needs, are evidence based and outcomes focussed. We aim to bring about an improvement in symptom picture and/or support our clients to achieve their goals despite ongoing symptomatology.
What psychological treatments do we provide?
- Assessment by a Clinical Psychologist – if appropriate a full psychological assessment by a Clinical Psychologist can help determine the most appropriate form of intervention if cases are complex.
- Psychoeducation – both for clients and their families to help them better understand the issues they are facing.
- Psychological coping skills – a range of skills can be taught to help individuals cope better in the present.
- Counselling – this is provided by a network of Associate Counsellors throughout Northern Ireland.
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) – one of the most effective forms of psychological therapy for common mental health problems.
- Trauma-focussed CBT – one of the NICE recommended psychological interventions for PTSD.
- Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) – one of the NICE recommended psychological interventions for PTSD.
- Following a screening appointment, clients are matched to the most appropriate form of intervention and every effort is made to source a therapist as close to home as possible.