Paralympic gold medallist and former Royal Engineer Commando Gregg Stevenson joined members of the Midlands Op COURAGE team at St Andrew’s Stadium in Birmingham to give a special presentation about his journey from serving in the Armed Forces to becoming a professional rower, to now supporting other veterans.
Gregg served as a Royal Engineer Commando before suffering a traumatic injury in 2009, where he lost both legs below the knee. Despite initial struggles, he worked hard to regain his fitness and pursued opportunities to learn new sports.
He became interested in rowing after trying out for the Invictus Games in 2018. Gregg then went on to qualify for the 2024 Paris Paralympics, where he won gold in the mixed double sculls, alongside his partner Lauren Rowles.
Alongside his impressive professional rowing career, Gregg is also a skilled mental health practitioner supporting veterans in his role as Armed Forces Lived Experience Lead for Op COURAGE North. Last month, Gregg was announced as a trustee for Walking With The Wounded, a key delivery partner for the Midlands Op COURAGE Partnership.
Gregg gave an inspiring presentation, touching on his time in the Armed Forces, his injury and subsequent rehabilitation, incredible professional rowing career and now his valuable work with the NHS, using his own lived-experience as a veteran to help develop the Op COURAGE service.
Gregg also participated in a focus group with key team members to discuss their shared goal of improving substance misuse and addiction services for the Armed Forces community, along with Midlands Op COURAGE partner Tom Harrison House. Tom Harrison House is a charity, providing a specialist addiction recovery programme for UK Armed Forces veterans and emergency services personnel. Gregg said:
“Working in veterans’ mental health is unique and in Op COURAGE we’re very lucky to have expertise from both skilled staff and veterans. It’s so important that we spread the word and make sure veterans reach out for help when they need it.”
Dr Helen Brown, Consultant Clinical and Forensic Psychologist and Clinical Lead for Op Courage Midlands’ Treatment Pathway said:
“It was so inspiring to hear about Gregg’s experience as veteran, Paralympian and now Armed Forces Lived Experience Lead.
“Gregg, along with other veterans who attended the event have given us lots of ideas and feedback as to how we can develop our work to benefit the veteran community now, and in the future.”
In addition to his speech, Gregg also took the time to send a strong message to the Armed Forces community to reach out to Op COURAGE if they need specialist mental health support.
Alongside Gregg’s presentation, the partnership’s Veterans’ Voices forum also took the opportunity to hold its first ever in-person meeting. Veterans’ Voices is the main service user forum for Midlands Op COURAGE and embodies the principles of co-production. Co-production is a way of working that involves people who use health and care services, carers and communities in equal partnership.
The forum, whose members include staff and veterans from across both the East and West Midlands, ensures that veterans are consistently involved in the design, delivery and evaluation of Op COURAGE services across the region. The group which usually meets virtually on a bi-monthly basis, is chaired by Dr Esther Riggs, Principal Counselling Psychologist from Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, and Co-Chaired by Toby Downing, from Tom Harrison House.
About Op COURAGE
Op COURAGE is an NHS service developed with people who have served in the Armed Forces and experienced mental ill-health. Working together with NHS services and charities, Op COURAGE makes sure people who have served and are struggling with their mental health and wellbeing get the specialist care, support and treatment for their specific needs.
Midlands Op COURAGE is one of six regional providers of the service in England, and since April 2023, it has supported more than 2,000 veterans, service leavers, reservists and their families across both the East and West Midlands.
Veterans, their families or other health professionals can refer, or self-refer to services by calling 0300 323 0137 or emailing mevs.mhm@nhs.net
Please visit www.opcouragemidlands.nhs.uk for more information.
Midlands Op COURAGE is proudly delivered in partnership by: Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, St Andrew’s Healthcare, Walking With The Wounded, The Ripple Pond, Tom Harrison House, and Mental Health Matters.
Published: 12 December 2024
