NHS Kent and Medway is investing £150,000 over the next three years in a project to support people who have left or are leaving the armed forces.
There are 130,000 ex-service personnel in Kent and Medway and while evidence suggests they suffer no more mental illness than the general population, they often do not seek help because of the stigma around mental health experienced in the military.
Veterans aged 24 and under are two to three times as likely compared to non-veterans to commit suicide. This age group in particular can find it hard to ask for help when they rejoin civilian life.
Ex-military personnel have higher rates of alcohol misuse than the general population. The Kent and Medway Veterans Needs Assessment found a 16 per cent rate of alcohol misuse among ex-service personnel compared to six per cent in the general population.
Alcohol may be used as a coping strategy for mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.
It's supposed to be the best time of your life…but that's often not the case for many young people.
Government figures show that one in ten children of school age have a diagnosable mental health problem, including anxiety and depression.
The mental health charity, Young Minds, suggests that one in five show signs of an eating disorder.
In our latest update from Fixers - the campaign that gives young people a voice - a young Hampshire woman, who had severe depression and anxiety as a teenager, is on a mission to ensure schools support their pupils.
£416,000 has been awarded to help support men's mental health projects across the South and South East. The money from the national lottery comes ahead of Men's Health Week UK which starts on June 11.
Research shows volunteering not only helps others but also improves your own mental wellbeing. This report from Tom Savvides includes interviews with volunteers Sharon Cooke and Shaun Danby, team leader Jackie Preston and Karen Macarthur from NHS Kent & Medway.
Now, doing good does you good, according to a new report. NHS Kent and Medway says helping someone is not just good for the soul, but is also good for your mental health. As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, people have been invited to do a good deed every day this week.
Sharon Cooke and Shaun Daunby are both volunteers and couldn't agree more.
