Diggers suffer in silence with PTSD

Diggers suffer in silence


``Living in no-man’s land’’ is how Vietnam veteran Frank Douglas describes post-war life without treatment and serves as a warning to other ``vets’’, should they refuse help in coping with their wartime experiences.
Broken yet still battling - he is one of many men who gave up their youth to fight for our country and living proof there are thousands of ``walking wounded’’ that have slipped through the cracks and in desperate need of help.
As Anzac Day approaches on April 25, Manly-Lota RSL is pleading with ex-diggers to step forward and accept help.
Men like Mr Douglas, 62, Hal Hillard, 86, and Percy Harvey, 91, are just some of the hundreds of ex-soldiers which the club’s Peter Beachamp has pulled out of a living hell.
As the sub-branch’s advocate, he is sometimes the first contact for local veterans and their partners.
Many are reliving wartime traumas and suffering from not only physical ailments from injuries, but ongoing mental conflicts resulting from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
go here for the rest
http://wynnum-herald.whereilive.com.au/news/story/diggers-suffer-in-silence/