Professional Referral

Guidance for External Referrers

Thank you for considering a referral to Combat Stress. We appreciate any and all information you can provide in support of your referral. The detail provided by you at this stage will ensure that your referral is processed without delay, unnecessary assessment repetition is avoided for the veteran, and where suitable appropriate treatment is arranged as quickly as possible.

It is important to understand before completing a referral, that approximately 80% of our treatment is delivered online. We have a small provision for in-person outpatient treatment at our hubs in Glasgow, Birmingham, Belfast and Leatherhead in Surrey. Also please note all our treatment is delivered Monday to Friday, between the hours of 9 am - 4.30 pm.

We aim to provide an initial meeting with one of our experienced clinicians within 10 working days of your referral submission*.

*Please note that wait times are subject to the timely submission of all accurate and relevant information required to process the referral, including information from other agencies, professionals, veterans and their support network.

The following information has been developed to assist you in deciding whether a referral to Combat Stress is appropriate.

Who do we see?

Combat Stress provides mental health services for veterans with PTSD, Complex-PTSD, and moral injury resulting from their experiences during military service. The following guidance is intended to support professionals to refer a veteran into our clinical services.

Our inclusion criteria to our services are as follows:

  • Veterans of the UK armed forces / non-operational reservists / ex-members of the merchant navy.
  • Experiencing mental health difficulties consistent with PTSD, Complex-PTSD, and moral injury resulting from their experiences during military service.
  • Likely to require inter-disciplinary support and treatment.
  • Registered with a UK GP and in stable accommodation.

Our treatment services are not indicated or evidenced for the following difficulties:

  • Personality Disorder (such as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder), Psychosis, Bipolar Affective Disorder, or mental health difficulties other than PTSD/C-PTSD.
  • Severe interpersonal difficulties, psychotic symptoms, significant risk concerns, mental or physical health crises.
  • Where neuropsychological assessment and / or organic brain damage is the main reason for referral.
  • Where childhood or other non-military related trauma or adversity is the main presenting problem.
  • Where substance or alcohol misuse is the main presenting problem or there is likely physical dependency.
  • If the veteran has attempted to end their life or participated in severe deliberate self-harm in the last six weeks or if the veteran has active current plans or intent to end their life.

Also, if the veteran you want to refer primarily or needs help with any of the following there may be other services better placed to help them:

  • Diagnosis for war pension / Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
  • Housing
  • Financial difficulties
  • Relationship difficulties
  • Occupational support in the workplace or education

Our 24/7 Helpline can signpost veterans, their loved ones or professionals to appropriate services for these needs - 0800 138 1619 or email helpline@combatstress.org.uk.

Although our focus is on veterans with complex trauma-related mental health needs, we provide self-help digital services which are open to veterans with less complex needs, their families and organisations who support or work with veterans - Combat Stress Self-Help Guides.

How can we help you decide whether to make a referral to us?

If, having read this information, you are not sure whether we are likely to be able to support the veteran you are working with, you are welcome to email us at helpline@combatstress.org.uk where we will respond within 24 hours during weekdays and 48 hours at weekends.

What happens when you make a referral to us?

Provided we receive all information required, veterans will be invited to an initial 30-minute meeting with a senior clinician. The veteran and referrer will be contacted with any decision made after the initial meeting.

The potential decision will be one of the following:

  1. Psychological Assessment

We offer a full clinical assessment. This is illustrated in the clinical pathway outlined below.
View the Combat Stress Clinical Care Pathway

  1. Our services are not appropriate for the veteran being referred

If we do not believe that we are best placed to support the veteran at this time we will:

  • Communicate this to the veteran and referrer after the initial meeting with a full explanation of the reason for this decision and, where we are able to, suggest alternative services that might be more appropriate, accessible or acceptable to the veteran currently.