Military veterans in the UK face significant mental health challenges. The transition to civilian life can be particularly difficult, and many veterans experience conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance misuse. Here are some key statistics and issues highlighting the need for services like Car Donor:

Prevalence of Mental Health Issues

• Approximately 52% of veterans report having mental health problems, with common conditions including depression, anxiety, and PTSD​.
• Around 18% of veterans have been diagnosed with depression, 17% with alcohol misuse, and 15% with anxiety​​.

NHS Wait Times

• Many veterans experience long wait times for mental health services. In some regions, the median waiting time for community mental health services is 45 days, with the 90th percentile waiting time reaching up to 251 days.
• The lack of waiting time targets for most mental health services further exacerbates these delays, leaving many veterans without timely access to necessary care​​.

Funding Challenges

• While the NHS has increased spending on mental health, it remains a challenge to meet the growing demand. The NHS Mental Health Investment Standard requires proportional increases in mental health spending, but local variations and non-ring-fenced budgets often lead to inadequate funding in some areas​​.
• Additional funding initiatives, such as the £18 million provided by NHS England over three years for veteran health services, aim to address some of these gaps but are often not enough to meet all needs​​.