The strategy aims to promote the importance of health and wellbeing across Defence, adopting a holistic approach to mental health, physical health and social health, recognising the need to educate and enable people to live healthy lifestyles in healthy environments.
Lieutenant General James Swift (Chief of Defence People) and Dr Peter Homa (Director General Defence Medical Services) said:
"The health and wellbeing of our people is something we deeply care about as Chief of Defence People and Director General Defence Medical Services. By supporting it we enable our people to realise their full potential, maximise their talent and productivity, and thereby optimise operational effectiveness. We both want and need our people to be the best possible version of themselves and to thrive because they are a part of Defence; this is both better for them and better for Defence.
"Health and wellbeing is everybody’s responsibility and this strategy is therefore for everyone at every level in Defence.
"We recognise that Defence has a diverse workforce, including both the military and civilians, with different employment models and accesses to healthcare and welfare support. However, our commitment to deliver a positive workplace environment that promotes health and wellbeing and enables all our people to thrive applies to all.
"Supporting the health and wellbeing of both yourself and those around you is a key team and leadership quality. We champion this, knowing that open and strong leadership at all levels, with visible role-modelling, enables our people to live and work in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment where they can enjoy the highest attainable standard of health and wellbeing."
Vision for Defence People
The Defence People Health and Wellbeing strategic vision is: All Defence People will be in a state of positive physical, mental and social health and wellbeing, to enable sustained delivery of defence outputs and optimise whole force operational effectiveness through improved productivity.
To realise this vision, the strategic objective for Defence is to: Create, promote and maintain the conditions for Defence People – military and civilian - to live healthy lifestyles in healthy environments, reducing injury, illness and suicide as far as possible, in order to maximise wellbeing and employability.