Supporting your family member, relative or friend following their COVID illness can be challenging. You may be providing emotional and physical help in addition to all your other responsibilities. This can be a very stressful time for you ...

The intent of Rebalance is to improve the mental health awareness of service mothers, allowing them to receive a basic education about worrying symptoms and behaviours. If you are pregnant or in the 1st year after childbirth you can refer yourself by...

The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, including a new emergency veterans high intensity service.   On Thursday 4 March 2021, Sir Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England and NHS Improvement, Johnny Mercer, Minister for Def...

Stopping smoking is one of the best things you’ll ever do for your health.    Research has found that exercising can reduce feelings of nicotine withdrawal.  So when you feel the urge to smoke, do something active instead!  You can g...

For more information and guidance on the restoration of Military Medals to personnel discharged on the basis of their sexuality follow this link:  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/military-awards-commemorations   The Compass Network: Royal ...

A review commissioned by the Ministry of Defence into the concerns raised by armed forces families and recommendations for change.   In January 2019, the then Defence Secretary, The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP, commissioned Andrew Selous...

" Hello and welcome to the FANDF Spring 2021 newsletter.   In the last newsletter I talked about how lockdown has affected all of us. While things haven’t yet returned to normal, I am pleased, as I am sure everyone else must be, ...

The Warrior Programme  enables individuals to manage their emotions and to develop the resilience, focus and motivation to succeed in today’s world. The programme has been developed over the last ten years to meet the demands and challenges...

The Forces Additional Needs and Disability Forum (FANDF) is for Forces families who have a dependent with an additional need and/or disability. This group is run by a Committee, family members themselves, who have experienced similar situations. They...

At the start of the year, Royal Navy’s Head of Health & Wellbeing Strategy, Erica Verity began the nhs.uk Couch to 5K Challenge. Here she is 12 weeks on and still training strong. Well done Erica, such a great achievement. It&rsqu...

Flexible Working and You is a digital booklet that acts as a guide to Defence’s package of flexible working opportunities for Service personnel. These opportunities range from delivering full output in a different place (such as Remo...

This can be a very stressful and uncertain time for many, and a drink can seem like the answer to calm feelings of anxiety.  Drinking alcohol can actually make things worse.   Understanding the facts about how alcohol affects your mind...

It can feel tricky to make sure we eat enough fruit and veg. The Easy meals app is a great way to eat foods that are healthier for you. You can search recipes by meal time and create shopping lists  https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/apps...

KCMHR is looking at how having a partner in the UK Armed Forces affects the health and wellbeing of women during pregnancy and following birth. It includes serving women and will also identify those in dual serving households, and will all...

Are you looking to be a little healthier? Start the new term by adding Drink-Free days to your week, visit  www.drinkaware.co.uk/tools  to find out how it will make a difference to your health. Speak to your Divisional Officer if you ...

Measures announced over recent weeks to tackle coronavirus have seen people’s day-to-day lives drastically altered. These changes are essential to beat coronavirus and protect the NHS.   We know that the order to stay home can cause a...

Feeling a bit of a slouch at the dining room table? More under the duvet than over the laptop? Sitting for prolonged periods of time leads to poor seated posture, weak upper/middle back, tight hip flexors and hamstrings. This can lea...

Dental treatment In England, some routine dental treatments are now available again. Changes have been made to keep you and the dental care team safe. If you are told to visit your dentist, you may notice some changes have been made t...

With many of us at home with our families all day, it’s easy to fill our weekly shopping baskets with sugary snacks and treats. Change4Life is here to help your family be healthier and happier. Download the ‘ Change4Life Food s...

The value that families add to Service life cannot be overstated. Their efforts to sustain domestic stability, enabling personnel to focus on delivering operational capability are hugely important and widely recognised.  What is also clear ...

Immunisations   NHS England is urging people to attend all regular vaccination appointments to prevent outbreaks of serious diseases and reduce pressure on the health service.   The NHS is continuing to help people to manage illn...

With children spending more time online due to the current situation we have put together a number of useful websites to help you keep your child safe online. Giving details of the different platforms and apps being used as well as providin...

Rebalance is an initiative of Service mothers, by Service mothers, for Service mothers to assist in seeking help if they have concerns about their mental health.   In these challenging and uncertain times, both Service pregnant and postnata...

A confidential helpline has launched to provide support for personnel experiencing or witnessing bullying, harassment or discrimination in the armed forces   Set up by the Ministry of Defence and employee support organisation Health Assure...

Victims of domestic abuse will be able to access the consultation rooms in Boots UK pharmacies, where they will be able to contact specialist domestic abuse services for support and advice.   The scheme is in response to the desperate situa...