Today’s defence related news includes coverage of the MOD’s mental health partnership with Samaritans.
MOD marks mental health awareness week with new initiatives with Samaritans
The Mail on Sunday reports that troops suffering from mental health issues will soon be able to use a webchat service connecting them to Samaritans counsellors with specialist military training – an announcement made to start Mental Health Awareness Week.
The Defence Secretary is quoted as applauding that campaign and emphasising the department’s commitment to ensure ‘no one in our military suffers in silence’.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
We are absolutely committed to making sure that no one in our military suffers in silence and I applaud the Mail on Sunday for highlighting and campaigning on this important issue.
I’ve stepped up our support for mental health in the Armed Forces, with an extra £2 million of funding a year and a new 24/7 Military Mental Health Helpline.
I’m delighted to announce that personnel serving at home and abroad will be able to access a new confidential system to help them in their time of need.
Life-raft faults found on second Clyde-built Navy vessel
The Sunday Herald reports that a flaw affecting life raft fastenings on the new Clyde-built HMS Forth has been found on more than one vessel, after BAE Systems admitted that inspections on another River Class OPV identified the same problem. A BAE spokesperson is quoted as saying the problem was ‘fixed immediately’, before adding that ‘an investigation is under way to establish the root cause of the incident’.
An MOD spokesperson said:
HMS Forth remains on track to enter service later this year, when she will go on to tackle piracy, safeguard our fishing stocks and protect our coastline. It is normal for us to work with industry partners to make some rectifications to ships shortly after they have been handed to the Royal Navy, and BAE Systems are already at work on these areas.
Image of the day
RAF Typhoons arrived in Romania end of April in support of a NATO mission.