Project Regain to support Royal Marines’ mental health

Royal Marines now have a simpler way of accessing mentalhealth treatment thanks to a new initiative, Project Regain, masterminded by aserving commando. Project Regain is aimed at promoting early detection and helpfor Royal Marines who could suffer from mental health issues.

Evidence collected by the project suggested that commandosfind it hard to ask for support when symptoms of illnesses like post-traumaticstress disorder and depression first present themselves.

Royal Marines have one of the most physically andpsychologically demanding jobs on the planet and findings show that a lack ofknowledge about mental health issues makes it more difficult to recognise aproblem developing.

Regain allows Royal Marines and related ranks to referthemselves directly to specialists without the need to first go through theirunit’s medical officer.

“It can be hard to put your hand up if you think you mightbe struggling with your mental health, and we’re working to challenge theperceived stigma around asking for help,” said Minister for Defence People andVeterans Tobias Elwood.

“Project Regain will help personnel get support quickly andeasily, as soon as they need it, and I applaud the Royal Marines for leadingthe way, ensuring no one suffers in silence.”

All they need to do is pick up a phone and call theDepartment of Community Mental Health at Colchester and from there they will beput straight through to a nurse who will arrange an appointment locally.

“Streamlining access to care and reducing stigma will allowindividuals to receive the treatment they need,” said Regain’s founder, CaptainRyan Morris, physical training and sports officer at the Commando TrainingCentre in Lympstone, Devon.

“We will hopefully be in a place where our people can accesstreatment at the start of an issue, which will reduce the treatment timelinesand ensure we have marines ready to deploy and able to deliver the expertisethey were trained to deliver around the world.”

Support systems are already well established within thecorps – and Royal Marines have the lowest rates of mental health problems inthe UK Armed Forces – but Regain intends to improve mental health awareness andreduce stigma.

Capt Morris has twice in his career been assigned to work atHasler Company, in Devonport Naval Base. Hasler is a dedicated centre designedto professionally help with rehabilitation for servicemen and women.

“The second time I was at Hasler, I saw the patientdemographic shift from physiological injuries to psychological illness. Many ofmy peers and friends were suffering from mental illness,” said Capt Morris, whohas recently been made an MBE for his work on the project.

“At that time, education and understanding was lacking andafter listening to the issues from the patients surrounding their experiences,it was obvious a simple and effective solution could be developed.

“I have seen first-hand the devastation mental illnesscauses not only to the individuals but friends and more importantly theirfamilies.”

Regain gives individuals access to basic education aboutmental health symptoms and the ways in which to seek help.

Most Royal Marines who seek help have eight to 12 sessionsof talking therapy and then carry on their careers. All the treatment providedis confidential.