SSAFA Chatter

SSAFA podcasts and videos for the military community, veterans, and Forces families.

Welcome to SSAFA Chatter!

SSAFA Chatter is our new collection of podcasts and videos for members of the Armed Forces community, whether serving, veterans or families.  Non-military SSAFA supporters may also find some interesting and useful content too. 

Subscribe to SSAFA Chatter on your preferred podcast platform. Click the buttons below, or simply view the videos on this page.

Thriving after lockdown

Hosted by Tom Fox, SSAFA ambassador, veteran and Director of Thoughtify (providing mental health training and education to businesses), the Thriving after lockdown series aims to support the Forces family with their mental and emotional wellbeing.

The series promotes positive conversation around mental wellbeing with children, young people and adults. Tom is joined by BACP accredited counsellor (for both children and adults) and family support worker Jo Morton-Brown, who is also a parent within the Armed Forces family.

In each episode Tom and Jo open the conversation around positive wellbeing and explore tools and techniques you can use. They also share advice and information to support you. Each episode is for a unique listener, so please view the correct episode for you:


For more information and support, view our Get help pages. You can also speak to one of our Forcesline advisors online or call 0800 260 6767, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

 



Episode 1

Thriving after lockdown – for children under 8


This episode helps children from the Armed Forces community under the age of 8 understand their feelings and emotions as well as how they can open up and talk about them.

We meet some children who talk about what has been making them anxious or sad during lockdown, while Tom and Jo explore those emotions and offer some helpful advice. Jo ends the episode with a mindfulness session to follow along with and revisit whenever it’s needed.

 



Episode 2

Thriving after lockdown – for parents and carers of children under 8


This episode helps the parents and carers of children under the age of 8 understand how parenting has changed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and what you should be aware of.

We meet some children who talk about what has been making them anxious or upset during lockdown, while Tom and Jo explore how you can support your child through those challenges and help them to open up.

 



Episode 3

Thriving after lockdown – for children 8-11


This episode helps children from the Armed Forces community between the ages of 8 to 11 understand their feelings and emotions as well as how they can try to handle them.

We meet some children who talk about what has been making them anxious or sad, including problems at school, home or during COVID-19. Tom and Jo explore those emotions and offer some helpful advice. Jo explains how the brain works and its impact on the way we think and feel in difficult situations. The episode ends with a calming visualisation to follow along with and revisit whenever it’s needed.

 



Episode 4

Thriving after lockdown – for parents and carers of children 8-11


This episode helps parents and carers of children from the Armed Forces community between the ages of 8 to 11 identify whether their child is struggling with anxiety and how to help them with their emotions.

We meet some children who talk about what has been making them anxious or sad, including problems at school, home or during COVID-19. Tom and Jo explore the challenges and changes affecting children and offer some helpful tools and advice, including way to support your own mindset.

 



Episode 5

Thriving after lockdown – for young people aged 12-18


This episode helps young people from the Armed Forces community aged 12 to 18 understand their mental health, how to manage stress and also engage an adult to talk about their feelings.

We meet young adults who talk about their struggles, challenges, and stresses during COVID-19. Tom and Jo explore how mental health and wellbeing affects how we think, feel and behave and offer some helpful tools and advice. Jo explains how stress can affect us physically as well as mentally in a way that is overwhelming, introducing the stress container tool that can be used.

 



Episode 6

Thriving after lockdown – for parents and carers of children 12-18


This episode helps parents and carers of young people from the Armed Forces community aged 12 to 18 understand how stress, self-esteem and anxiety could be impacting their child, and how to talk to them about it.

We meet young adults who talk about their struggles, challenges, and stresses during COVID-19. Tom and Jo explore the challenges and changes affecting young people and offer some helpful tools and advice on how you can support them.

 



Episode 7

Thriving after lockdown – for adults living alone


This episode helps adults from the Armed Forces community living alone understand how to keep themselves mentally healthy, including tools that can help.

We meet adults who have been living alone in the mess during the COVID-19 pandemic who discuss some of the challenges they have faced. Tom and Jo explore those challenges and themes including; worry, social media, routine, exercise, having a support network and keeping in contact.