This month, the UK government pledged to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, describing it as a commitment to “prepare for war at home.” At the same time, plans are being made to cut billions from the welfare budget. For charities like Oxfordshire Mind, this raises complex but urgent questions. Who is being protected, and at what cost?
Because while we talk about soldiers on the front line, we often forget the ones closer to home. The ones facing daily battles with depression, trauma, grief, poverty or discrimination. People are doing their best to survive in a system that increasingly makes that more challenging.
These are not just policy choices. They are a statement of priorities. And for charities like Oxfordshire Mind, they raise serious questions about the kind of country we want to be.
Because while some speak about troops on the front line, we also see the soldiers at home. The people facing daily battles with depression, trauma, poverty, grief or housing insecurity. And they are being asked to fight with less and less support.
A Shift in Priorities
The pledge to spend more on defence comes with a price tag of over £30 billion extra per year. Alongside this pledge, the government has proposed £5 billion in welfare savings by 2029–30. These include freezing the housing element of Universal Credit, tightening eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and placing greater pressure on people to prove they are fit for work.
This will disproportionately impact disabled people, many of whom already face long waits, complex assessments and inadequate support. It also affects people experiencing long-term mental ill health, who may be unable to work but are repeatedly made to prove their condition over and over again.
Mental health charities, including national Mind, have signed open letters condemning the proposals. There are fears they will push people into crisis, increase suicide risk, and place further strain on NHS and charity services that are already under pressure.
The Human Cost
Mental health services are already stretched. Charities like ours see first-hand the impact of benefit stress, isolation and insecurity. When people are forced to choose between heating, eating, or paying for prescriptions, their mental health suffers.
When someone already dealing with anxiety or PTSD loses financial support, it can trigger a crisis. The knock-on effect falls on friends, families, employers, the NHS, and community services. This isn’t hypothetical. It’s happening now, and cuts will make it worse.
A Battle of Values
No one is arguing against the need for national security. However, safety should not just be measured in missiles and submarines. It should also be measured in how we care for our most vulnerable, how we protect mental health, and how we respond to trauma.
It is deeply unsettling to hear talk of resilience and readiness while the systems that help people stay afloat are being quietly dismantled. If we want a resilient nation, it starts with resilient people. And that means investing in welfare, not cutting it.
The Real Front Line
Mental ill health is one of the biggest causes of disability in the UK. It does not discriminate. It affects teachers, key workers, parents, carers, veterans, and students. It affects people in every postcode, including right here in Oxfordshire.
The truth is, many of us are fighting battles you cannot see—battles that do not get medals or ceremonies but that take extraordinary strength to face each day. We owe it to those people to keep fighting for a society that backs them, not leaves them behind.
Our Message to Policymakers
At Oxfordshire Mind, we believe real strength comes from compassion. A truly secure country is one where people do not have to choose between getting help and staying housed. Supporting mental health is not an optional extra. It is a foundation for everything else.
If the government wants to prepare for the future, it should start by protecting the services that allow people to live with dignity and hope. It should also invest in those fighting silent battles and fund the welfare system, not just the warfare system.
Because some of the most important battles aren’t fought on the battlefield. They are fought in bedrooms, GP waiting rooms, food banks, and therapy sessions.
Let’s not forget those soldiers, too.