24 Jun Soldiers Give Heartbreaking Accounts of Their Struggle With PTSD

24 June 2017 is Armed Forces’ Day in the UK. The day is an opportunity to remember the sacrifices many servicemen and women have made by fighting on the country’s behalf. This year marks the fifth time the country has commemorated the day in honour of British troops, and 2017’s version saw around 300 events take place around the country in accordance with the hashtag #SaluteOurForces.

However, when we think of sacrifices troops have made, death and physical injury come to mind. It is certainly undeniable that risking your life for your country is an incredible act of selflessness which must be commended. In addition to this, it is also important to recognise that those who make it back home alive and in good physical health, may also be battling serious mental challenges as a result of the horrors they witness and/or take part in during battle. In the UK, it is believed that since 2012, the number of British soldiers and veterans committing suicide has now exceeded the number that lost their lives fighting in battle.

The scale of this problem has also been seen in the unprecedented amount paid as compensation to British war veterans who had suffered mental disorders as a result of their service. From 2009/2010 to 2015/2016, the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme saw a 379% rise in such claims, an indication of the staggering nature of this issue.  Figures from across the pond are also shocking: it is believed that 31% of Vietnam veterans, up to 10% of Gulf War (Desert Storm) veterans, 11% of US soldiers who served in Afghanistan and 20% of Iraqi veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by extremely traumatic events which can cause the affected individual to repeatedly relive those frightening or distressing moments through nightmares and flashbacks. Other symptoms can include (but are not limited to) insomnia, hypersensitivity and irritability, and bedwetting.

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