Prisons to help ex-soldiers with mental health issues

Extra help for ex-servicemen who find themselves in prison battling mental health issues was announced today.

A pilot scheme, launched last year at Wandsworth prison, is being extended to Brixton and Thameside prisons and Isis young offenders’ institution.

The project, run by the London Veterans’ Service, aims to reduce re-offending by former military personnel who get drawn into crime, often involving violence.

The number of veterans in UK jails, either awaiting trial or after conviction, fluctuates between 3,000 and 14,000 prisoners. The initiative — a collaboration between two NHS trusts, Camden and Islington, and South London and Maudsley — uses specialist nurses to identify and offer support to those with mental health issues. Support will also be given to help with drug and housing problems.

Dr Sue Ferrier, clinical psychologist and co-ordinator of LVS, said: “Their experiences in the military and in the battlefield and associated mental health and substance misuse problems have been shown to increase their risk of offending and, in particular, violent offending.”