Britain faces a "ticking timebomb" of mental illness and suicide

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The cortege of hearses passes through Wootton Bassett yesterday

Shocking suicide toll on combat veterans

Tories demand better mental health care for troops returning from front

By Nigel Morris and Kim Sengupta


Britain faces a "ticking timebomb" of mental illness and suicide among young Army veterans who return from hand-to-hand combat in Afghanistan, the Conservatives will warn today.


A lack of mental health care for veterans, combined with the stress of fighting the Taliban, will mean many survivors of the conflict pay a heavy price in psychological problems and self harm, according to David Cameron and the shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox.

As the bodies of eight soldiers – including three teenagers – killed in a bloody 24 hours in Helmand were repatriated yesterday, mental health experts joined the politicians in warning that not enough was being done to care for returning members of the armed forces.
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Shocking suicide toll on combat veterans