Portsmouth hailed the 'Premier League' of 'world class' veterans care by minister Johnny Mercer

PORTSMOUTH’S care for its military heroes is ‘world class’, with Britain’s veteran’s minister declaring: ‘This is the Premier League of how we look after our veterans’.
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Johnny Mercer championed the city's efforts to support its ex-forces community, hailing Portsmouth as a shining example of international ‘best practice’.

The minister lavished praise on the island’s plethora of ‘third sector’ armed forces charities, as well as its army of specialised health care experts and hospital workers.

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But despite the vote of confidence locally, the retired army officer admitted there was ‘still more to do’ nationally to make Britain the ‘best country in the world to be a veteran’.

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer is visiting QA hospital to hear from the veteran leads on hospital services on 15 October 2020.

Pictured: Johnny Mercer at QA hospital.
Picture: Habibur RahmanVeterans minister Johnny Mercer is visiting QA hospital to hear from the veteran leads on hospital services on 15 October 2020.

Pictured: Johnny Mercer at QA hospital.
Picture: Habibur Rahman
Veterans minister Johnny Mercer is visiting QA hospital to hear from the veteran leads on hospital services on 15 October 2020. Pictured: Johnny Mercer at QA hospital. Picture: Habibur Rahman

Speaking exclusively to The News, the head of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs said: ‘I’m always trying to highlight best practice in this country where it takes place and bring others up to that standard.

‘When you look at places like Portsmouth and Plymouth, you are looking at the Premier League of how we look after our veterans.

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‘The challenge is levelling up that experience so you don’t have to be in one of these military towns or cities to make sure you get a world-class experience when you’re dealing with veterans care.’

Andy Long and Clive Sutton with family and neigbours in Stamshaw Road, Portsmouth, to mark Remembrance Sunday during lockdown.

Picture: Habibur RahmanAndy Long and Clive Sutton with family and neigbours in Stamshaw Road, Portsmouth, to mark Remembrance Sunday during lockdown.

Picture: Habibur Rahman
Andy Long and Clive Sutton with family and neigbours in Stamshaw Road, Portsmouth, to mark Remembrance Sunday during lockdown. Picture: Habibur Rahman
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Mr Mercer’s comments came as he unveiled a new raft of ‘game-changing’ measures designed to build the ‘mental resilience’ and ‘fitness’ of serving personnel.

From today, every member of the Royal Navy will be able to boost their mental health through the access of a new ‘toolkit’ known as HeadFIT.

The platform is designed to give personnel key techniques to boost their mood, enhance their confidence and reduce stress.

Initially launched online last year, a new offline version is being made available in a CD, which is rolling out across the navy’s fleet.

Royal Navy sailors from HMS Prince Wales pictured during the ship's commissioning ceremony. Photo: Royal NavyRoyal Navy sailors from HMS Prince Wales pictured during the ship's commissioning ceremony. Photo: Royal Navy
Royal Navy sailors from HMS Prince Wales pictured during the ship's commissioning ceremony. Photo: Royal Navy
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The CD works in personal laptops and computers and promotes various techniques including breathing exercises, body posture and mental visualisation.

Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral Nick Hine – who is in charge of maintaining the welfare of all naval personnel – said: ‘It is absolutely critical to me that we prioritise activities to support and improve the mental fitness and resilience of our internationally deployed team.

‘HeadFIT – as an offline tool – will empower individuals to access expert support services in improving their own mental wellbeing.’

Mr Mercer added that from April military personnel would be given specific time during the day to focus on wellness, in a tactic he hoped would help quash mental health issues early before their spiral out of control.

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Meanwhile mental health ‘resilience’ training and awareness courses would be rolled out as a ‘mandatory’ part of military life for all troops,’ he said.

‘That will be a real game-changer and is something that has never happened before,’ added Mr Mercer.

‘This is as important as equipping yourself with body armour and a rifle or doing your physical exercise to make sure you’re fit enough to survive on the battlefield.

‘We need to prepare our people mentally to make sure they are in optimal condition when they meet the challenges that we’re asking them to meet.’

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The rollout of the new measures comes amid a rise in the number of troops being seen with mental health issues between 2019/20.

Statistics from the Ministry of Defence revealed one in eight military personnel had been seen by specialists for mental health issues – broadly similar to civilian rates.

While the Royal Navy recorded a ‘statistically significant increase’ of sailors being treated for mental health issues, rising from 12 per cent in 2018/19 to 12.9 per cent the following year.

Mr Mercer said it wasn’t clear whether the spike was due to an ‘increased prevalence’ of mental health issues or as a result of increased confidence in reporting issues.

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‘You are statistically less likely to have a mental health challenge if you’re in the military,’ he insisted. ‘But let me be clear, one is one too many for us.

‘We want to make sure the military is where you can be the best version of yourself, where you have all the wrap around care you need, where you’re taught how to look after yourself physically and protect yourself in combat but similarly how to build a real mental fitness and resilience to deal with the challenges we ask you to undertake on the nation’s behalf.

‘So it’s something we’re constantly monitoring. I think we’re in a good place. But we will continue to push on this.’

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