A NEW mental health service for Southampton veterans will soon be launched.

Health bosses have given £15,000 to Steps to Wellbeing, an organisation that helps people who are suffering from mild to moderate depression and anxiety.

The money from the South Central Strategic Health Authority will mean that it can extend its service to offer specialist help for veterans living in the city.

The work will start later this year, with veteran champions doing outreach work to increase access to the service.

Dr Colin Hicks, clinical lead for Southampton Steps to Wellbeing Service, said: “Initially we started by scoping out what services are available for veterans in the area and looked at how these could be better promoted.

"We hope that the public will recognise that the service is striving for inclusivity and increased access for all.”