Mental health awareness for UK Armed Forces
Welcome to Head Up. We are a new UK Armed Forces charity set up by veterans, intending to promote mental health awareness for UK Armed Forces, and help Forces personnel build a positive mindset and improve their mental resilience. We are on a mission to raise enough money to develop a holistic and positive 7-day retreat in 2024. This retreat will be there for all those who have served, and are still serving, in any service of the UK military including Reservists, who wish to improve their mindset and outlook.
A mental health charity for the military community
We are a not-for-profit Charitable Incorporated Organisation, which is the highest charity status available. Our aim is to raise funds to establish The Retreat, which will be a safe haven for serving Military personnel and Veterans to enable them to deal with mental health difficulties. The Retreat will be a non-militarised, luxury, eco-friendly location with comfortable accommodation, and many other restorative facilities. This is on top of the work we currently provide; one-to-one help, wellness days, mini retreats and wellness presentations.
About us and Our Mission
Head Ups vision is to stem the increasing number of suicides within the military community by empowering people to turn things around before their issues have the chance to become life-threatening. We’ll do this by creating a unique, holistic countryside retreat that removes the existing barriers to getting the right help. Seven-day residential courses will provide personalised mental-health support for serving and retired members of the Army, RAF, Navy, and Royal Marines. We will catch those at risk of falling through the cracks in current provision. By design, the retreat will have a non-militarised atmosphere no triggering Forces paraphernalia, photographs, uniforms, or hierarchies. A calm, natural and luxurious environment will help guests feel welcome and valued and give them space to work on their mindset and learn new skills for challenging negative thought and behaviours. Although guests can be recommended to us by military organisations and charities, the NHS and businesses who employ veterans, they can also self-refer.
This is a real point of difference from most other services. And guests won’t have to pay a penny to access Head Ups services. We don’t want money worries putting off anyone who would benefit from our services.
Our mission is to raise mental health awareness for UK Armed Forces, and empower members of the military community who are at breaking point to recover their mental health and enjoy a more positive, and happier future.
The challenges
- Military personnel are generally reluctant to acknowledge anything is wrong for fear of being labelled weak or non-deployable. It takes veterans 13 years on average to ask for professional help, and 84% of those reporting psychological issues never seek treatment.
- Much of the psychological care currently available, while excellent, is offered in a military setting. For people in acute mental distress, such surroundings can trigger further harm and be incompatible with any meaningful recovery.
- While veterans get high priority over civilians, NHS mental-health services are struggling to cope with increasing demand across the board. For complex conditions such as PTSD, it can take up to two years to access the right therapy, and this may end up being too little, too late. For many, going private is simply too expensive to be a realistic option.
What The Retreat will offer:
- A seven-day, hands-on, relaxed and friendly environment
- No official medical requirements needed: individuals will load themselves on the course and attend free of charge
- It will be a non-militarised environment. Allowing each guest to fully relax away from any triggers they may experience from the military
- Basic lifestyle methods taught that each individual can use in their day-to-day lives. No therapy, medications or counselling
- 18-month aftercare package in place
Reach Out. You Are Not On Your Own.
If you are serving, have served, or are supporting someone in the military community and feel you need help, guidance, or simply a conversation, we are here.
Use the form below to get in touch with us. Whether you are asking about support, retreats, referrals, fundraising, or just want to understand what we do, we will take the time to listen.
There is no judgement, no pressure, and no cost. Just real people who understand the challenges and want to help you move forward.