SME News December 2017

SME NEWS / December 2017 15 Northern Ireland’s Own Service Charity Company: Beyond the Battlefield NI Contact: Annemarie Hastings (Chief Executive) BA (HONS) Contact: Robert McCartney (Chairman & Counsellor) MBACP Contact Email: [email protected] Phone: 02891 225610 Phone: 02891 228389 Website: www.beyondthebattlefield.org trauma and dealing with the military mind. He is renowned at being top of his field throughout the Northern Ireland Health Services. “Chair Robert McCartney has designed a bespoke training course, specifically related to Mental Health issues that veterans are dealing with. We intend to roll this programme out to health professionals to arm them with the necessary tools to treat our veterans, without the use of unnecessary drugs. This course will also give the health professionals the knowledge to deal with very complex issues relating to battlefield and civil unrest related trauma.” Signing off, Annemarie is excited about the possibility of future funding in 2018, and releasing the burden of GPs, something she is keen to point out. There is clearly a lot to look forward to for Beyond the Battlefield. “Keeping an eye on the new year, we hope to receive the funding to open a specialist centre in 2018 which will take the burden off GPs, and make a massive reduction in the amount of drugs being issued and taken to relieve the symptoms of these illnesses from the unnecessary use of drugs. The veterans will avail of this bespoke service as opposed to being continuously sign posted for years with unsuccessful outcomes.”