Veterans lost to PTSD deserve a ‘fitting memorial’ motion argues
“It is only right that we honour everyone who has paid the ultimate sacrifice serving their country. Now we need to honour all those lost heroes equally.”
These were the words of West Sussex councillor David Edwards as he rallied support for the names of veterans who had taken their own lives due to PTSD to be placed on a national memorial.
At a meeting of the full council, Mr Edwards, who joined the Royal Engineers straight out of school, told his fellow councillors that an average of 75 veterans committed suicide every year.
He tabled a motion calling on the council to lobby the government for a fitting memorial to those lost to PTSD and to encourage staff to undertake Armed Forces Mental Health First Aid training.
He said: “Not all heroes die on the battlefield. Some will never leave it and are unable to deal with life away from it.
“It is only right surely that these servants of our country are recognised for their
sacrifice, ultimately caused by what they have given in the service of their country.”
A sculpture was erected at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, in memory of PTSD sufferers
who had taken their own lives – but it bears no names.
Mr Edwards said: “This is simply not good enough. A fitting memorial listing their names must be erected at the National Arboretum, properly recognising them as the heroes that they are and giving their loved ones a suitable place to honour them.”
Mr Edwards received unanimous support from the council.
Amanda Jupp, cabinet member for adults and health, told the meeting that the risks to veterans would be included in the council’s forthcoming revised Suicide Prevention Strategy.
She also wrote to Jeremy Quin MP on the matter and received a letter from Johnny Mercer, minister for defence people and veterans, supporting the call for a memorial.
Members were told that the council had received the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
Set up in 2014, the scheme acknowledged organisations which pledged, demonstrated and advocated their support for the Armed Forces community.