Veterans WORLD 7

SHIP - SELF-HELP INTIATIVES PROJECT
Facilitated self-help groups for veterans in Leeds

For better mental health logo SHIP is a user led service, delivered by people who have experienced mental health problems and/or emotional distress. The ethos of the project is that self-help facilitates growth and enhances an individual’s ability to cope with stress and change.

The project offers an alternative approach to traditional services and encourages people with mental health problems and emotional distress to find ways to help themselves and others. MIND mental health charity believes that this approach closely matches the philosophy of many veterans, that is to develop one’s own self reliance and to offer mutual support to others who have gone through similar experiences and are now experiencing similar stresses.

Established in 1999, groupswere initially attended by veterans from Korea, Suez and Vietnam but over time veterans from more recent conflicts have joined. Veterans are given the choice of meeting in veterans only groups or joining groups open to all. Many civilians especially those from the police, fire service or nursing can also be faced with traumatic eventsthat can leave emotional scars.

Why trauma leads to emotional distress

Trauma, particularly war trauma, can turn people who previously viewed themselves as active, self-reliant and confident into someone who feels frightened, helpless and uncertain. Continual or even episodic exposure to circumstances that are life threatening can be highly damaging to their confidence and self-belief. When
usual methods of exercising control become ineffective (for instance in a theatre of war) they may be forced to develop other selfprotective habits. Mental health problems often appear strange or alien from the outside but they are often no more than an attempt to regain a sense of being in control of one’s life. When there is too much chaos in a person’s everyday life, symptoms of a disorder such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can become helpful to the person – perhaps finding solace and safety in the repetitions.

Ship-Help Initiatives Project photo As each person is different, responses to stress are different; feeling out of control; withdrawing into themselves. Once a person has had to make this kind of adjustment, it will take care and attention to unpick. It may not seem appropriate to an officer for a soldier to break down during combat, but such behaviour after service may be highly productive in terms of hastening recovery. The way the human mind works, traumatic events are processed differently to ordinary events. Because they cannot be fully processed at the time of occurrence (because it is not safe or there is not enough time), they tend to repeat themselves as nightmares of flashbacks. They require attention and the mind is often appalled at the overwhelming feelings such recollections contain. Talking about the trauma and regaining control over it by controlled replay can remove the poison from the memories and allow them to pass into the realm of the ordinary.

How Self Help Works

Companionship and trust can be found in groups where respect and support for each other are nurtured. On these foundations veterans can rebuild shattered confidence, process past, painful experiences, come to terms with what they have witnessed and start to recover from the ill-effects of events.

SHIP groups are organised in various ways meeting weekly or monthly, closed or open membership and timed or openended. Subjects addressed at the groups can vary and can include: improving relationships, stress management and dealing with flashbacks.

For more information, call
SHIP: 0113 245 5151, call
Leeds Welfare: 0113 2836568 or visit the
Leeds Mind web site http://www.leedsmind.org.uk

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