Northamptonshire charity needs your help for veterans to give emotional support to coronavirus workers

A Northamptonshire charity has launched a fundraising appeal to set up a project for trained veterans to give emotional support to coronavirus frontline workers.

Let's Talk Mental Health needs to raise £5,000 to start the Veterans in Support scheme to help both ex-service personnel and anyone under stress from the Covid-19 crisis.

Charity founder Nick Wilson wrote on the JustGiving page: "Our veterans are uniquely placed to truly empathise and relate to what our wonderful people on the frontline are going through."

Let's Talk Mental Health has a team of veterans trained as 'volunteer listeners' ready to offer counselling to NHS workers and volunteers, care workers, emergency services and support staff.

Veterans will act as a listening ear when those on the frontline begin to relive and reflect on the difficulties they have experienced through this traumatic time and advise them on other services who can help.

Nick feels indebted to the NHS for helping him when he was injured in Iraq and had an emergency patient evacuation during his 14 years of service with the British Army.

Since leaving the armed forces, the NHS has also provided mental health support after he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and had a failed suicide attempt.

Nick wrote: "Many members of the veteran community, both veterans and their partners, also relate to what those on the frontline are experiencing.

"Not only the military-style operational needs of hospitals and other services, but also what they're experiencing -- emotions, stress, pressure, fear, anxiety, uncertainty, negative thoughts and witnessing horrendous scenes.

"Yes, I know there are already support systems out there, but not enough to cope with the amount of people needing mental health support.

"The provision of options is essential. We are all individuals and mental health care should be individual; not everything currently available is what everyone needs."

Nick thanked Metro Bank in Northampton for helping him set up a bank account for Veterans in Support remotely as he is shielding - something his own bank could not do.

Metro Bank area director of Northampton and Milton Keynes Kerry Reynolds said: “We’re delighted to have supported Nick in his efforts in setting up Veterans in Support.

"The project offers much needed care for our frontline workers in these unprecedented times."

To donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/veteransinsupport