Thanks to the generosity of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, Combat Stress Learning currently hosts 3 learning communities providing access to veteran specific mental health training. 

This learning community is available to professionals working with, treating or supporting veterans with mental health issues. 1500 fully funded places are available to people from the public, private or voluntary sector.

Professionals’ Community

Cultivating Hope & Trauma-Informed Services.

This training aims to reduce the length of time between veterans with complex mental health issues leaving the military and seeking help. The training focuses on:

  • veterans at risk of developing suicidal ideation, or
  • around whom there are safeguarding concerns, and
  • those in marginalised groups.

This training will ensure anyone working with, or caring for, a veteran is best equipped to respond safely and effectively to those veterans’ needs and help them move veterans into the right services that maximise their chances of recovery.

Suicide Prevention; Supporting High-Risk Veterans.

This training aims to reduce veteran deaths by suicide. Our training focuses on increasing confidence (via upskilling and sharing expertise) amongst people caring for or working with veterans with mental health needs who are at high-risk of suicide.

This learning community is available to partners and carers of veterans with mental health issues. We know how hard it is to be the partner or carer of a veteran with complex mental health difficulties.  Our aim is to support partners and carers by providing reliable, evidence-based information that will increase knowledge and understanding. 

Partners and Carers’ Community

Supporting a veteran with complex mental health difficulties. 

This training aims to provide partners and carers with the knowledge and confidence required to support a veteran who is considering reaching out for help with their mental health difficulties. 


The subjects we will cover include:

  • Understanding trauma and PTSD
  • Military Focussed Mental Wellbeing
  • Barriers to Healthcare
  • Supporting a veteran with complex mental health to seek help.

Suicide Prevention; Supporting High-Risk Veterans.

This training aims to provide partners and carers with the knowledge and confidence required to support a veteran who is
at risk of suicide. 

The subjects we will cover include:

  • Understanding Military History.
  • Pre-enlistment history.
  • Positive factors - reasons for living.
  • complex presentations.
  • Imminent warnings of suicidality.
  • Military culture.
  • Mental health and suicide stigma.
  • Prevention.

Eligibility Criteria


To qualify for one of our funded learning places in our Professionals, Partners and Carers communities you need to either:

1. Be working with veterans either in the public, corporate or voluntary sector.
a. You may be an employer of veterans, or a colleague.
b. You may be treating, caring for or supporting a veteran.
2. Be a partner or carer of a veteran.

We reserve the right to close an account if a learner has been inactive for one month or longer. funded places are limited.

The training described below is available to existing VPPP grantholders. 

VPPP LEARNING COMMUNITY

Military Awareness & Sensitivity

This training has been designed to challenge common perceptions about the military community, many of which are unhelpful and can lead to misconceptions and prejudices.

The military community has long been subject to a range of stereotypes and
assumptions, some of which can be harmful and untrue. This course aim to break down these misconceptions and help people better understand the military
community.

Trauma & PTSD

Our Trauma and PTSD training provides a comprehensive overview of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, exploring its impact on the brain, families, and individuals. You will learn practical strategies to support those with PTSD, addressing complexities like Complex PTSD, Vicarious Traumatization, and Moral Injury. This training aims to empower you with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the multifaceted challenges
associated with Trauma and PTSD and its broader impact on individuals and
communities.

Military Focused Mental Wellbeing

This training package is dedicated to exploring mental health with a military focus. It aims to provide valuable insights into how mental health issues affect veterans and their unique experiences. By understanding the similarities and differences between veterans and other populations, you will develop a culturally competent approach that enables you to better meet the needs of your veteran clients.

The training addresses several key aspects, including the significance of early
adversity in relation to experiencing low mental wellbeing. Moreover, the
training will delve into the experiences of veterans who may be mentally unwell
because of military service, unrelated to combat experiences or operational
deployments.

You can also learn about the Veterans Mental Health Awareness Standard and guidance on how to complete the Self-Assessment Tool.

Suicide Prevention

The Suicide Prevention training prioritises the significance of building and maintaining connections, dispels myths, and educates participants on spotting signs that someone may be considering suicide as an option. It guides individuals in having difficult conversations, knowing when and how to call emergency services, and provides a roadmap to immediate crisis and long-term support resources.

Trauma Informed Organisations

This training looks at what we mean by the term 'trauma' and why it is important for us to take trauma into account, even if our services don't directly address trauma experiences.  We consider what trauma-informed practice is and examples in the workplace. We will encourage you to take a trauma-informed lens to consider practices within your
organisation and your role, and finally we ask you to make a plan to take trauma-informed practice into your workplace.

Safeguarding For All

This training looks at safeguarding for adults and children and, where possible, will make links to how this applies to the veteran community. 

It is important to stress that safeguarding is safeguarding, and risk is risk regardless of an individual's cultural background (in this case, experience of serving in the armed forces). However, cultural competence is important, and this training will seek to ensure that you are aware of:

  • Your basic responsibilities.
  • How a family with a military background may experience risk.
  • How to respond to disclosures or concerns. 

Transitions of Care and Support: Warm Handovers

This training centres on warm handovers; a supported transition of care or support into a new service. The word transition is strongly associated with the adjustment from military to civilian life. Here we are focusing on a beneficiary transitioning between services and organisations. 

During the training, we will look at how we facilitate effective transitions and how we can be prepared for the challenges that transitions bring.  We use a trauma-informed lens, to support safer transitions of care or support for beneficiaries, staff and our communities. 

Domestic Abuse

The Domestic Abuse training addresses critical topics to enhance awareness and intervention strategies. You will gain insights into recognizing the signs and understanding
the various forms it can take. The training incorporates the Duluth Power and Control Wheel, offering a structured framework to identify and comprehend the dynamics of power and control within abusive relationships. Additionally, it explores the nuances of Domestic Abuse in Diverse Relationships and explains the Homicide Timeline underscoring the gravity of the issue, emphasizing the importance of timely and effective intervention to prevent potential tragedies. This training will also help you understand the available resources for victims and survivors, crucial to creating safer services for veterans and their families.

Women Veterans & Gender Sensitive Services

Female veterans have historically been a minority group in the military, but their numbers have been increasing over the years. Despite this, their experiences have often been overlooked and they have faced unique challenges in their military careers and in their transition to civilian life. These challenges can include issues related to combat exposure, sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination.

Research conducted by Combat Stress has shown that female veterans potentially have higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and symptoms of anxiety and depression. This highlights the importance of understanding the unique experiences of female veterans and tailoring mental health support accordingly.

Here we will introduce and explore the experiences of female veterans in the UK. We will examine the challenges they face and how we can work towards a better understanding of their needs.

LGBT+ Sensitivity and Empowerment

This course gives an overview of the Pride in Veterans Standard (PiVS), a programme provided to organisations from Fighting With Pride - the LGBT+ military charity, that allows organisations to be proactive in demonstrating their inclusion and support for LGBT+ Veterans.

This training is available to existing VPPP grant holders.  Fully funded places are available to 500 people.  In order to apply for access to our VPPP training packages register via this link.

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Please note that we are currently unable to provide access
to Combat Stress Learning to people living and working outside the UK.