Female veterans support group makes national impact

Female veterans support group makes national impactImage source, Clare Worden/BBCImage caption, Chelley Tulloch, a former RAF medic, has been working with female veterans in NorfolkByClare Wordenin NorwichPublishedJust nowA mental health support service for female veterans founded one year ago could be replicated across the country. The support groups are run by the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, external, which provides mental health services.Forty-eight women across both counties have been helped so far, with organisers getting calls from other trusts interested in starting a similar service. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) said it had developed a new female veterans toolkit, external offering bespoke guidance and support. Image source, Clare Worden/BBCImage caption, Clinical nurse specialist Vicki Bailey has helped the MOD develop support for female veteransClinical nurse specialist Vicki Bailey said the women benefit from spending time together and sharing experiences.As well as mental health support, guest speakers focus on issues such as military pensions and the impact of the menopause. Bailey has been working with the MOD to help them develop their support for women still serving and those leaving the forces.She said: "I've had people nationally reach out to find out how we've done it, what we've done and more people are saying 'yes, there is a need'."Women face specific issues as veterans and I think from a government perspective and a healthcare perspective this is being heard. "I think there's a lot of work that still needs to happen, especially inside the military and for those that are transitioning out of the services."If you don't know what's out there to support you it's quite scary and daunting."Image source, Chelley TullochImage caption, Experiences that Chelley Tulloch had in the Balkans, the Gulf and Afghanistan led to a diagnosis of PTSDChelley Tulloch, a former RAF m...