Dispatches - Battle Scarred - Topics
Drinking has always been a part of army culture and seen as playing an important role in helping soldiers bond together. It has also been used as a way of relieving stress after a tour of duty.
However recent research shows drinking in the armed forces has reached dangerous levels, and many veterans go on to become alcohol dependent.
When a soldier is suffering from mental health problems he or she is expected to ask for help. The group least likely to do this are younger soldiers. This is also the group who are at highest risk of committing suicide.
MOD funded research concluded that only 4% of army personnel suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This figure was taken from a sample of regular solders who have served in Iraq since 2003.
Combat Stress, the leading charity that helps veterans with mental health problems says that on average post traumatic stress disorder does not surface until 14 years after the event.
The MOD does not provide data showing how many relationships fail when a soldier returns from war. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the difficult nature of the job, the time spent away from home and post combat stress led to many relationships falling apart.
