UK:Veterans found to be at risk of alcoholism and suicide

Just as we have seen society rally for those who have been physically wounded, we must now ensure that those who have been psychologically injured while serving their country receive the support and understanding that they deserve, and that care must not stop when they leave the services.

“Just as they have stood up for us, we will stand up for them and that is why I am proud to support the Combat Stress Enemy Within appeal.”

Combat Stress appeal: Veterans found to be at risk of alcoholism and suicide
Almost a fifth of service personnel have drinking problems while young soldiers who leave the Armed Forces are three times more likely to kill themselves than civilians, academic studies show.

By Martin Beckford
Published: 7:30AM GMT 15 Mar 2010

The mental health problems suffered by members of the Armed Forces have emerged as David Cameron became the latest high-profile figure to back a £30million appeal to improve care for veterans.

The campaign by the charity Combat Stress, which is being supported by The Daily Telegraph, was launched by the Prince of Wales last week amid fears that troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are likely to need increasing levels of psychological support in the coming years.

Recent research appears to confirm that service personnel are at greater risk of developing mental health problems than the general public, and often find it difficult to cope with civilian life when they return from the front line.

A University of Manchester study found that of the 233,803 people who left the services between 1996 and 2005, 224 had later killed themselves.

The average age of those who took their own life was just 22, and the risk of suicide in the under-24s was between two and three times higher than in the general population or serving troops.



Veterans found to be at risk of alcoholism and suicide