‘Military mental health sector review and case management: Challenges and opportunities’
Online conference co-hosted by the Contact Group and the Northern Ireland Veterans’ Support Office (NIVSO)
Tue 16 March 2021, 0930-1300
Many thanks to all the speakers and attendees who joined us for Contact and NIVSO’s recent online conference on military mental health. You can find the background to the event, the conference programme with links to speakers’ slides and links to other available resources and outputs from the conference below.
More information about the Veterans’ Mental Health Information System outlined during the conference can be found here. If you would like to submit feedback on the proposed system or the conference itself, or if you have queries about any of the outputs, please use our contact form or email: anna.owen@contactarmedforces.org.uk
Conference resources & outputs:
– Speaker slides – where used, please click the relevant links in the conference programme below
– Conference pack (including speaker biographies)
About the event
This free conference was open to all professionals working in military mental health, as well as those with a role or interest in veterans’ case management. Veterans and families were also welcome to attend. The aim of the event was to review recent developments in the military mental health sector, including identifying any challenges and opportunities to address them. Also to share details of (and seek feedback on) the veterans’ mental health information system (VMHIS) proposed by the Cobseo/Contact case management working group and presently being scoped by consultants.
The programme included keynote speakers, speaker panels and opportunities for audience Q&As and discussion. The full programme with links to speakers’ slides (where used) is below.
The keynote speeches and first session had a Northern Ireland focus, as Contact is a collaboration of organisations from all four nations of the UK and this conference was originally due to take place in Belfast. The second and third sessions focused on veterans’ mental health and case management in the UK (case management is one of Contact’s priority work areas) and outlined and invited feedback on the proposed veterans’ mental health information system (VMHIS).
Military mental health sector review and case management: Challenges and opportunities
Conference programme (see links for speaker slides)
Co-hosted by Liz Brown, Head of Northern Ireland Veterans’ Support Office (NIVSO) and Charles Winstanley, Chair of Contact Group
0920-0930: Virtual arrivals
0930-0935: Welcome & introduction – Liz Brown
0935-0940: Keynote: Mental health in Northern Ireland
Video message from Robin Swann MLA, Minister of Health, Northern Ireland Assembly – introduced by Liz Brown
0940-1000: Keynote: Veterans’ mental health in Northern Ireland
Speaker: Danny Kinahan, Northern Ireland Veterans’ Commissioner (10 mins)
Followed by audience Q&As – chaired by Liz Brown
1000-1100: Veterans’ mental health in Northern Ireland
Speakers will comment (3 mins each) on their top three strategic issues and will include:
– Johnny Rollins, Chief Executive, Reserve Forces & Cadets Association for NI
– Ciaran Mulholland, Clinical Director, NI Regional Trauma Network
– Peter Baillie, Director, UDR & R IRISH Aftercare Service
– Cherie Armour, Professor of Psychological Trauma & Mental Health, Queen’s University Belfast
– David Cameron, Clinical Lead Psychologist, Inspire Wellbeing
– Ben Higgins, Welfare Officer, The Ely Centre; Volunteer Caseworker, SSAFA NI; Vice-chairman, Not Forgotten Association
– Art O’Malley, Head of Clinical Services, The Ely Centre – slides
Followed by audience Q&As and discussion – chaired by Liz Brown
1100-1115: Break
1115-1155: Proposed veterans’ mental health information system (VMHIS) presented by members of the Cobseo/Contact case management working group (5-7 mins each):
– Roy Brown, Director of Governance Support, Confederation of Service Charities (Cobseo) – notes
– James Greenrod, Head – Armed Forces People Support, Ministry of Defence
– Andy Bacon, Head of Policy & Strategy for Armed Forces, NHS England & NHS Improvement – slides
– Nicola Cook, Assistant Director of Operations, Royal British Legion
Followed by audience Q&As and discussion – chaired by Charles Winstanley
1155-1255: UK military mental health & case management
Speakers (5-7 mins each):
– David Richmond, Director, Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA)
– Charlie Wallace, Scottish Veterans’ Commissioner – slides
– Neil Greenberg, Professor of Defence Mental Health, King’s College London & Lead for Military & Veterans’ Mental Health, Royal College of Psychiatrists
– David Rowley, Head of Operations: Regional & Specialist Services, Leeds & York NHS Partnership Trust – slides
– Neil Kitchiner, Director & Consultant Clinical Lead, Veterans NHS Wales – slides
– Catherine Kinane, Medical Director, Combat Stress – slides
– Sarah Jones, Head of Psychological Wellbeing, Help for Heroes – slides
– John McColl, Chairman, Confederation of Service Charities (Cobseo)
Followed by audience Q&As and discussion – chaired by Charles Winstanley
1255-1300: Summary of key points – Charles Winstanley
1300: End
Image credit: Walking With The Wounded