Calls made to improve mental health support for veterans
Data reveals over 250 ex-military personnel took their own lives in 2021
A mental health organisation says more needs to be done to protect military personnel when they leave the armed forces.
Suicide Prevention Charity R;pple is calling for change after Defence Statistics Health figures revealed more than 250 veterans took their own lives in 2021.
The figures also showed over 1,700 personnel had been diagnosed with neurotic disorders in the same year, including anxiety and OCD, indicating the scale of the widespread challenges of mental health within the forces.
Wiltshire-based charity Help for Heroes told us that one former soldier taking their own life is 'one too many'.
James Knox is the Clinical Lead at Hidden Wounds, Help for Heroes therapy service.
He says it's clear mental health is a challenge across all walks of life.
"Across the board, people are suffering more and more with mental health and veterans in particular, sometimes have experiences which can leave them vulnerable, to mental health problems after service," he said.
And while experiences can be a factor in a veterans wellbeing, James told us physical injuries can lead to mental health issues further down the line.
He said: "There's a lot of evidence that across the board in, in any walk of life, that life changing injuries can and often do it affect people's mental health as they adjust to them.
"Help for Heroes often sees veterans suffering with mental health related to physical injuries, sometimes picked up in services, sometimes not."
The Hidden Wounds service offers a variety of interventions for veterans, including cognitive behavioural therapy with person-centred counselling and cognitive behavioural therapists, with evidence-based interventions.
James told us that the service also supports the families around veterans, urging anyone struggling to reach out, encouraging friends and families to help in that process too.