GHP July 2017

GHP / July 2017 19 NEWS , Tobias Ellwood, Minis- ter for Defence People and Veterans, recently launched an innova- tive strategy to im- prove the mental health and well- being of the Armed Forces, their families, veterans and Defence civilians. While rates of mental disorder are slightly lower in the Armed Forces (3.2%) than in the general population (3.5%), the challenge of improving the mental health of the MOD’s entire workforce is an important one. The Defence Peo- ple Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2017-2022, launched by Mr Ellwood at an international con- ference with counterparts from the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, builds on five years of research and aims to build a coordinated approach to prevent, detect, and treat mental health and wellbeing issues, as well as intro- duce measures to promote the im- portance of mental health. The new strategy will include plans to: • Encompass all Defence People – serving Armed Forces members (regulars and reserves), military families, veterans, and MOD civil servants; • Introduce standardised mental health and wellbeing ed- ucation and training for all those working in Defence; • Invest in research on resilience training to ensure that in- dividuals are as mentally fit as they can be to prevent depression and anxiety and monitoring of groups who are more likely to suffer from mental health issues, such as com- bat troops and medical personnel in support of them; • Improve access to clin- ical assessment (such as through digital delivery) and prioritisation for treatment; • Develop partnerships with key service charities to contin- ue anti-stigma campaigning initia- tives and share best practice and; • Improve communication to the workforce about what help is on offer. Minister for Defence People and Veterans Tobias Ellwood said: “A fitter force is a more effective force and keeping our people healthy helps keep this country safe. This new strategy recognises the impor- tance of mental health, alongside physical injuries and will improve the prevention, detection, and treatment of mental health issues which is vital to the wellbeing of our military. I’m also delighted to host ministers from some of our key partner nations, to consult and share best practice on veterans’ issues.” Mr Ellwood and his international counterparts agreed that the shar- ing of ideas has an important part to play in building a greater com- mon understanding of veterans’ issues and that there must be an ongoing commitment to ensure support services continue to meet the needs of serving personnel, their families and veterans. Seven Elixinol hemp oil CBD prod- ucts will be available to consum- ers throughout Europe including best-sellers such as Liposomes, noted for their great taste and in- creased bioavailability, the target- ed topical Rescue Balm, and CBD capsules. Consumers throughout the world use Elixinol’s CBD hemp oil for both lifestyle improvement and condition treatment. Elixinol ex- pects Europeans will embrace CBD hemp oil products as part of an overall wellness regimen. “Faced with shrinking healthcare budgets and an increased em- phasis on well-being, European consumers are looking for ways to get better rest, reduce stress and optimise their fitness efforts,” said Husong. With increasing numbers of con- sumers in Europe embracing fit- ness, organic foods and stress reduction, Elixinol’s market entry meets the needs of the growing marketplace. According to Statista, over 52% of Western Europeans rated their own health knowledge as suffi- cient or excellent, “translating into greater understanding of health measures and what individuals should do to improve their own health.” The health and wellness market value in Western Europe is already over €145 million with more growth projected. Western Europe’s dietary supplement mar- ket is projected to reach over €5.6 million by 2020. MOD Launches Defence People Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy European Consumers Embrace Elixinol Hemp Oil CBD as Part of Wellness Movement Sophia Bullard, crewhealth programme director at UK P&I Club, discusses the importance of vaccinations for seafarers. Regarded as one of the fastest growing and most trusted cannabidiol brands in theworld, Elixinol announces expansion into Europe. “From executives who crave in- creased focus and stress reduction to fitness aficionados seeking fast- er recovery, since we launched, sales in Europe have exceeded our aggressive expectations,” said Chris Husong, director of global marketing and sales for Elixinol. “Hemp and its benefits are nothing new for Europeans,” said Marco Cappiello, Director of European Operations for Elixinol. “But with concerns over serving size, poten- cy and purity now addressed by Elixinol’s rigorous and transparent testing process, Europeans can now purchase CBD hemp oil with confidence,” he continued. To eliminate consumer concerns about metals, solvents, pesticides as well as potency and purity, Elix- inol is the only global brand to post independent laboratory test results online and follows a strict phar- maceutical-grade testing process. Elixinol will source its European CBD from existing relationships with Northern European organic farmers who have been cultivating hemp for generations. “It’s as if we’re coming home,” said Husong. “We’ve had relationships in Europe since our inception, be- ing able to deliver the end product to the European consumer is in- credibly satisfying.” Elixinol products are available to customers in Europe on elixinol. com and in various retail health outlets throughout Spain and Italy. More information available at Elixinol.com.