An Cosantóir

31 A model for clinical support: The Strategy will work to develop an effective person-centred model for clinical support that ensures the timely identification, referral, treatment and reintegration of personnel suffering from mental illness or disorder. This will help to reduce stigma and to provide the best possible outcomes for our people. So whose job is it to implement the strategy? The Deputy Chief of Staff for Support has convened a Mental Health and Wellbeing Standing Committee to implement the strategy over the course of the next few years. Each section of the Defence Forces that is directly associated with mental health and wellbeing has a representative on the Committee. You will find our chaplains, occupational social workers, our psychiatrist, clinical psychologists, BPSSOs, our gender advisor, as well as health and safety, catering and physical education all represented on this team. This provides a strong and effective system of consultation and collaboration and will ensure that all the objectives identified in the strategy are achieved. The Standing Committee is chaired by OIC DF PSS, and reports to the Director of the Medical Branch who will in turn report to the Deputy Chief of Staff. This means that our progress will be monitored and observed, ensuring that we have the best support and guidance in getting to the end of the road. Looking forward from here So there are exciting times ahead. It is hoped that the next three years will generate insights, form structures and enhance services in mental health and wellbeing in the Defence Forces in a way that we have not seen before. We will include everyone on the journey and keep our military people informed of our progress through normal channels as we go along. In the end mental health and wellbeing is the responsibility of us all! Lean orainn agus ar aghaidh linn anois! Suicide: Suicide is a global issue, and everyone can help in reducing its effects. Our strategy will help us to support personnel in preventing suicide through appropriate information sharing and training, informed decision making and the ongoing development of positive organisational culture in the Defence Forces. Stigma: The Strategy will work towards removing barriers in the way of accessing support for mental health and wellbeing issues. We recognise stigma as a barrier to mental health support and will work to overcome and defeat it through education, leadership and the fostering of a positive and supportive military culture. Critical Incident Stress Management: We will examine and enhance how we support our personnel who experience traumatic or critical incidents during their military lives, and will work to ensure that our support is as good as it can be, and at the front of best practice. A Comprehensive Approach: Mental Health and Wellbeing covers all aspects of our lives. We will support the physical and mental wellbeing of all personnel of the Defence Forces through facilitating an active and healthy lifestyle, enabling and encouraging regular physical activity, and providing appropriate information and training on all aspects of a healthy lifestyle, including diet, exercise and general health. Military Families: The Strategy recognises the importance of our military families. We will support the mental health and wellbeing of military families with training, education and information, so that they can get the best experience possible from the military service of their loved ones. THE DEFENCE FORCES MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING STRATEGY 2020-2023 v After working together through physical and mental hardship sometimes we are more resilient working as a team v We can achieve more if we work together

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