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<p>It is mandatory for all Armed Forces personnel to have a Structured Mental Health
Assessment at their discharge medical examination. This will highlight any unknown
mental health needs and enable signposting and referral where necessary. This may
be to NHS services such as OP COURAGE which provides a complete mental healthcare
pathway for service leavers in England with similar services in other parts of the
UK or to a MOD Department of Community Mental Health, where an individual can access
mental healthcare for six months following their discharge.</p><p>More broadly, all
Armed Forces personnel who are unable to undertake normal duties, (including those
wounded, injured or sick) will enter the Defence Recovery Capability. Each of the
Armed Forces has a Recovery Pathway that optimises an individual's recovery or transition
to civilian life. This is underpinned by an Individual Recovery Plan. Factors within
the Plan are assessed using the HARDFACTS criteria: Health, Accommodation, Relocation,
Drugs/Alcohol/Stress, Finance, Attitude, Children and Family, Training, Resettlement,
Employment and Support Agencies. Consequently, any Service person in a Recovery Pathway
will receive an ongoing holistic assessment by their Personal Recovery Officer, regardless
of whether the individual is medically discharged or leaves Service by another mechanism.</p><p>The
Veterans Welfare Service and Defence Transition Service are both components of Veterans
UK. These services deliver additional support to Service leavers with enduring welfare
needs and those vulnerable personnel on a casework model following discharge.</p>
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