ARU student is mental health nurse of the year

Published: 28 September 2020 at 14:00

Lyndsay Khan

Lyndsay Khan is celebrated for her work with military veterans

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) student Lyndsay Khan has been named Mental Health Nurse of the Year by the British Journal of Nursing for her work with military veterans.

Lyndsay is a MSc Global Military Veteran and Family Studies student at ARU, and combines her part-time studies with her work as Team Manager at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s (LPFT) Veterans’ Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS).

Lyndsay has been a Mental Health Nurse for over 20 years, serving 14 years in Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service before joining LPFT. She has drawn on her own experience as a military veteran to work on projects such as helping ex service personnel gain access to charitable funding, raising awareness of mental health in the armed forces community, and organising fundraising events.

Lyndsay, who is from Leasingham in Lincolnshire, said:

“Veterans mental health nursing is a specialist area of mental health which is still in its infancy and very much needed.

“To support those who have sacrificed so much for their country is a privilege I take very seriously. I hope that the promotion of this award will resonate with both veterans and those working in a similar field, raising awareness of the help that is available, and how they can access it.

“My team and I care deeply about the needs of our veterans who are struggling with their mental health, and will go above and beyond to ensure they get the support they deserve.” 


Dr Hilary Engward, Senior Research Fellow within the Veterans and Families Institute for Military Social Research (VFI) at ARU, said:

“We are proud that Lyndsay's dedication and knowledge to nursing knowledge and practice, and her excellent work in TILS  is nationally recognised for her care and support of veterans and their families.”


The virtual ceremony can be viewed at www.bjnawards.co.uk