Wellbeing service launched to support Moray's military children
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A NEW wellbeing service has been launched to support Armed Forces children and young people – the first of its kind in Scotland.
The Royal Caledonian Education Trust (Scotland’s Armed Forces Children’s Charity) launched Your Mind Matters with the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH).
The idea emerged from discussions with more than 600 young people from Armed Forces families across Scotland. Some 83% of young people said their wellbeing was negatively affected by challenges – many unique to service life.
These included stress and anxiety over a deployment of a loved one, constant moving, and upheaval to friendships and education caused by new postings.
The charity also heard from children of veterans who were often dealing with parental physical or mental ill health which created issues within the home such as increased caring responsibilities, poverty and family conflict.
The young people included Isabelle, a member of RCET’s national youth forum – Military Youth Voice Scotland.
She said: "There was a point when I was a bit younger where I really did feel really isolated. Where I lived there wasn’t a lot of people who had been through the same things as me and I did feel quite by myself. If I had the support when I was younger I wouldn’t have gone through all of the difficult phases I had as a child and I wouldn’t be in quite the place I am at the minute."
The charity plans to recruit young people to help develop the service from September, helping to create a digital wellbeing tool to boost mental health and resilience.
It is hoped that this initiative will revolutionise the level of support available to Armed Forces children and young people.
The charity said some Armed Forces children were currently falling through the gaps, including those who have recently moved to Scotland, children of veterans, young carers and those living in rural areas where direct support may not always be possible.
Contact the RCET at admin@rcet.org.uk or call 0131 322 7350.
