A Burnley man has won an award for designing ‘Crisis Cards’ to help distract and stabilise veterans in times of extreme anxiety.

Gregg Stevenson, NHS mental health practitioner of Veterans High-Intensity Service North, had the idea to base the ‘C-Cards’ on emergency evacuation cards called ‘9-Liners’ used by soldiers on the front line. 

Competing in the ‘Oscars’ of Mental Health – AKA The National Positive Practice in Mental Health Awards 2022’, the Crisis Cards won in the Specialist Services category at the ceremony.

Formerly in the armed forces, Gregg was encouraged and supported by his NHS senior leadership team to develop the mental health aid for veterans concept through collaboration between NHS Op Courage Veterans High-Intensity Service and the founder of Bolton-based creative agency Portfolio, Darren Clare.

Lancashire Telegraph: Gregg Stevenson and Darren ClareGregg Stevenson and Darren Clare (Image: Promo)

Gregg said: “To get the idea off the ground, I knew I had to have a brew with Darren at Portfolio and see how he felt this could work. By basing our crisis cards on 9-Liners, we were able to produce a familiar-looking, valued and easily accessible way of presenting distraction and grounding techniques to keep soldiers focused when in a challenging situation.

“The collaboration meant we could create a product we knew was needed and something that would be successful in preventing hospital admissions and/or self-harm.  The C-Cards have been incredibly well received by the veteran community and the NHS. 

“To win at the National Positive Practice Mental Health Awards is a real honour.  It’s been amazing for the team at NHS Op Courage Veterans High-Intensity Service to receive recognition for the huge difference they make to so many lives.”

Portfolio was appointed to turn the vision into reality thanks to its impressive track record for creating successful public health and well-being campaigns. 

Founded in 1995 by creative director Darren, the full-service agency specialises in graphic design, branding, advertising, web development and social media.

Darren said: “This is a really great example of a client coming to us with an idea that was desperately needed - but they didn’t know how to get that idea onto paper. 

“Thanks to Gregg’s brilliant idea coming together with our eye for design, the cards are now bringing great results across the service.”

Held on October 6 in Durham, the annual event is organised by a partnership of 75 organisations, including NHS Trusts, Police Forces, CCGs, front-line charities, third-sector providers and service user groups.

For more information, visit www.portfoliodesign.net.