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As we mark one year since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, NHS England has funded a new service dedicated to providing mental health support for Afghan nationals who have previously worked in Afghanistan alongside the UK Armed Forces or Government departments.

Since the Taliban takeover, more than 21,000  Afghan refugees have been resettled in the UK under several schemes designed to support those at-risk. Under the Afghanistan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP), individuals formerly employed by the British Armed Forces have been relocated and granted leave-to-remain in the United Kingdom. The British government has also released a package of support as part of Operation Warm Welcome (OWW), which includes additional funding to health and social care service to ensure Afghans arriving in the UK receive the vital support they need. 

As part of these efforts, the OpCourage Warm Welcome Afghan Service, Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, ensures the mental health needs of these individuals are met in a holistic single point of access service. In partnership with OpCourage Veteran’s Services across England, the Warm Welcome Service will provide assessment, support and advocacy for Afghan individuals living in all parts of England. The service, officially  launching on Monday 17 October,  will also support people to find help for wider needs, such as housing, financial and social needs through connections with local councils, government departments and charities. 

Those who have been relocated to Britain under the ARAP scheme are eligible for this service, as well as those who have been directly employed by the British Government or worked alongside the British army since 1 October 2001. This includes sol