Families of serving RAF personnel and veterans who are finding life tough will be offered unique training to help them identify, and deal with, the symptoms of poor mental health.
The Royal Air Forces Association, the charity that supports the well-being of the RAF family, is offering mental health awareness training at locations across the UK.
The initiative, named Finding It Tough?, launches on Blue Monday (20th January). It is open to all RAF veterans and their families, plus partners, parents, siblings and children (over 18) of anyone serving in the RAF, as well as anyone working on an RAF station (such as MOD civil servants and defence contractors).
The specially designed training aims to equip people to be more resilient to life’s pressures. It will also help people to offer support to others struggling with mental health issues, and to signpost them to organisations that may be able to help.
Air Marshal Sir Baz North, President of the RAF Association, said: ‘The continuing stigma around mental health issues is something which must be addressed in all walks of life. The free courses that we are offering are a vital step towards this. These courses will help people to identify the characteristics and traits associated with mental ill health so that timely and supportive action can be taken.’
Blue Monday is the name given to the third Monday of January, which is claimed to be the most depressing day of the year.
For more information and to book a place on one of the mental health awareness courses, the first of which begins in early March, visit the Royal Air Force Association website.
