8 May 2025

We will be welcoming Op Courage to St Mary’s Hospital during Mental Health Awareness Week, to lend a supportive ear for the island’s Armed Forces and veteran community.

Jon Giemza-Pipe, Lived Experience Practitioner Lead, from Op Courage, an NHS mental health service for those who have served in the UK armed forces, will be at St Mary’s Hospital on Monday 12 May and Thursday 15 May from 11am to 2pm with a display stand outside the Full Circle Restaurant to talk to anyone from the serving or ex-armed forces community who might need that extra support.

Steve Parker, Medical Director, Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Veteran’s Clinical Champion said: “As a Veteran Aware accredited organisation and one of the island’s main healthcare providers we are committed to supporting our veterans and armed forces community.  We are proud to be supporting our armed forces community this Mental Health Awareness week, and delighted to be welcoming Jon who is an invaluable resource of support for veterans and serving personnel across the country.”

Jon Giemza-Pipe, from Op Courage South East,  said: “Our service is there to support those who have served in the UK armed forces, who may feel that they need some help with their mental health. We are encouraging members of the island’s veterans and armed forces community to come by and say hello and find out a bit more about what treatment and support is available. There is no expectation to have a personal discussion on the day but just to make contact to see how we may be able to help.”