Solent Mind has received a contract extension from The Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity, which means our Anchoring Minds service can continue supporting Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel and families in Hampshire who might be experiencing poor mental health.

Run by staff with lived experience, Anchoring Minds helps military personnel and their families navigate the challenges of service life by providing access to mental health support when needed. This could be through a friendly chat with someone who understands what they’re going through, home visits by service leaders with lived experience, or access to free courses and resources.

As part of the extension, Solent Mind has also created a new series of videos exploring the emotional cycle of deployment and other wellbeing topics, as well as a free toolkit designed to help those about to experience deployment within their family. All are available on a revamped webpage that will make it even easier for military families to find the right support. Plus, a new dedicated telephone service has been introduced to support people affected by deployment nationwide.

Caroline Payne, Service Manager at Solent Mind, commented: “Living with a partner, child or parent in the Royal Navy or Royal Marines creates a unique set of challenges that can put pressure on a person’s mental health. With frequent moving, stress around deployment and loneliness to contend with, it’s not uncommon for military families to need some extra support. The same is true for military personnel, who also have to contend with many risks and challenges to their mental health.

“We want to ensure both serving personnel and their families know how and where to access support when they need it. Anchoring Minds is integral to achieving this, so we’re incredibly pleased to be able to continue providing the service, helping people manage the challenges that can come with being part of a military family.”

Mandy Lindley, Director of Relationships and Funding at The Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity, said: “We are proud to continue our support for Solent Mind and the ‘Anchoring Minds’ service, which has proven to be a vital lifeline for Royal Navy and Royal Marines families. Service life brings unique pressures and it’s essential that personnel and their loved ones have access to dedicated mental health support. By extending this partnership, we’re helping to ensure that no one in our naval community feels alone or unable to cope, no matter where they are in their journey.”

For more information about Solent Mind’s Anchoring Mind’s service or to access support, visit: Anchoring Minds | Mental health and wellbeing support for Navy and Marines serving personnel and military families or call: 0300 303 1725.