Your views
Dear Editor, My father and his two brothers all flew with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War; one in Coastal Command, one in Bomber Command and one in Fighter Command.
I imagine it was quite unusual that the three brothers flew in the three separate branches of the RAF and even more unusual, that come the end of the war had all survived.
I am very proud to be backing the RAF Benevolent Fund’s centenary campaign to reach out to RAF veterans and let them know the help and support they deserve is out there.
The Fund, which celebrates its centenary this month, is here to help the whole RAF Family through the toughest times.
They estimate that there are up to 100,000 veterans and their partners who urgently need help.
Often National Service veterans and their partners, who answered their country’s call more than 60 years ago don’t even realise they can turn to the RAF Benevolent Fund for help.
Time is running out, we only have a few years to help these veterans before it is too late.
So I urge you to speak to your relatives, neighbours and friends and if they once served for the RAF and are in need of support encourage them to contact the Fund.
It is our duty to ensure these veterans spend their twilight years in comfort and dignity, with the help of the RAF Benevolent Fund.
If you know someone who needs support, call 0300 102 1919.
Sue Holderness, RAF Benevolent Fund
Hiremilitaryleavers
Dear Editor,
New research by SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, shows that nearly half of UK recruiters are shying away from hiring service leavers, citing fear of poor mental health as one of the barriers to recruiting.
The misconceptions have led to 37 per cent of recruiters in Glasgow admitting to being reluctant to hire someone who had previously served in the Armed Forces.
To challenge this lack of understanding amongst businesses and to help service leavers transition from military to civilian life, SSAFA is launching its Friendly to Forces campaign.
The campaign asks businesses to sign up and show their intent to offer equal opportunities to service leavers.
The database of Friendly to Forces employers will then be used by SSAFA’s Mentoring Service to signpost potential candidates to employers that we know will value their skills.
The Mentoring Service helps motivate, support, build resilience and empower service leavers – to fulfil their potential in their new lives outside the military.
The campaign will underpin SSAFA’s pledge to the Armed Forces Covenant to show advocacy on behalf of the Armed Forces community.
We ask that you show your support of the campaign and encourage businesses to sign up at ssafa.org.uk/ friendly.
Clare Bain, SSAFA, Armed Forces Charity
Mental health report
Dear Editor,
A Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland’s report, published last week, has revealed 6,038 new episodes of compulsory treatment using the Mental Health Act in Scotland last year – the highest figure since the Act came into force in 2003.
The new data also shows rising figures for young people aged under 25 being given compulsory treatment.
Both young men and women aged 16 to 17 have shown the greatest increase in the rate of emergency detention across the 10 year period observed since 2009/10.
There has also been a rise in the number of short term detention certificates used in relation to young people.
In women under the age of 25, there has been a 122.5 pe cent increase in the use of short term detention since 2009/10, rising from 142 to in 2009/10 to 316 in 2018/19.
Whilst compulsory treatment may not always be avoidable, it should not be inevitable.
However, these figures show a worrying rise in the use of compulsory treatment.
For young people in particular, the figures are a stark reminder that there is a gap in mental health support services for this age group.
People need the right support at the right time.
The report also highlights concerning issues around compliance.
It should not be the case that large numbers of compulsory treatment orders are being applied without the consent of a specialist social worker or mental health officer.
It will be important for the forthcoming review of the Mental Health Act to consider these findings carefully.
I would also urge councils and health boards to look at how they’re using compulsory treatment.
Nigel Henderson, Chief executive, Penumbra