News & Articles - Features
General comments
Tuesday 25 August 2009
As the number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan continues to grow, one of the often hidden consequences of military service is the psychological effects on those who served. For many who leave the army, their experiences can have a devastating impact on their mental health and family relationships. Many of these problems can take years to surface and many find it difficult to admit them to others, including to those who could help them. How widespread are these problems and how can they be dealt with by the support organisations? We want to hear your views.
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Relationships comments
Tuesday 25 August 2009
There is no official data to show how many relationships break down when soldiers return from war. However, anecdotal evidence would suggest that the difficult nature of the job, the time spent away from home and the disruption of moving and re-locating, are all factors that lead to relationships ending.
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Mental health comments
Tuesday 25 August 2009
MOD funded research concludes that only 4% of army personnel suffer from Post Traumatic Stress. The figure was taken from a sample of regular soldiers who have served in Iraq since 2003. However Combat Stress, the leading charity which helps veterans with mental health problems, says that the average time for post traumatic stress to surface is 14 years.
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Alcohol comments
Tuesday 25 August 2009
According to the Academic Centre for Defence Mental Health, King's College, hazardous drinking, alcohol dependence and alcohol-related harm are all more common in the UK Armed Forces when compared to the general population.
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Suicide comments
Tuesday 25 August 2009
Recent research indicates that Army veterans under the age of 24 are two to three times more likely to kill themselves than civilian men of the same age. (Suicide after leaving the armed forces: cohort study, University of Manchester, 2009).
