Plans to double number of army reserves will create ‘surge in mental health problems’

Plans to double number of army reserves will create ‘surge in mental health problems’
Charities say members of the TA are twice as likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder than soldiers in the regular forces
The Independent
ADAM WITHNALL
WEDNESDAY 02 OCTOBER 2013

Government plans to replace sacked full-time soldiers with reservists could create a new wave of former servicemen who need treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mental health campaigners have warned.

Members of the Territorial Army are twice as likely to suffer from PTSD as regular soldiers, research has shown, because they lack the equivalent long-term support structures.

The chief executive of Combat Stress, Andrew Cameron, told Sky News: “The preponderance of post-traumatic stress disorder amongst veterans who are reservists is 50 per cent higher than it is for regular servicemen.

“The reason for that is they don't get the level of support from their regiment, their ship or their squadron that they might have done if they were a regular.

“If we double or treble the number and if we continue with high-intensity warfare then I think society has got a big challenge because we will see a lot more reservists who need help.”
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