Troops needing mental health care double in 10 years

TWICE as many troops are seeking mental health treatment now as a decade ago, a report reveals today.

Combat in Iraq or Afghanistan “clearly increased the likelihood of mental health conditions”, MPs found.

Ministry of Defence figures showed 3.1% of serving personnel are diagnosed with mental health conditions, twice the proportion in 2008/09. MPs believe about 10% of veterans may have conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder or depression but some avoid help due to the stigma of mental health.

But today’s Defence Committee report warns it still takes “too long” for veterans to access care.

It also says female personnel, those leaving the Armed Forces early and those recruited under 18 may be more vulnerable to mental health problems.

But it claims the “vast majority” leave with no mental health problems.

However, it found the principle in the Armed Services Covenant giving veterans priority treatment for service-related conditions is “inconsistently applied”, creating an impression that the health service is “failing veterans”.

Labour MP Ruth Smeeth, chairwoman of Parliament’s Armed Forces Covenant group, said: “Clearly, some leavers are falling through the gaps and the MoD needs to do much better in working with health economies across the UK to stop this from happening.”