Families are affected by life in forces

THE recently launched campaign by Help For Heroes, entitled “You Are Not Alone” resonates for us in Bridgend.

The campaign was created after research carried out by Help For Heroes, with YouGov, revealed that one in four armed forces family members believe their own mental health and well-being has been affected as a result of their loved one’s service. 16% of those surveyed said they would try to cope alone, with only 5% saying they would seek help from a mental health professional.

The most worrying statistic was that 39% of those who would try to cope alone said they would do so because they felt they had no right to share their struggles or get support.

The effects on the mental health and well-being of those people who choose to serve in our armed forces has long been highlighted by charities such as Help For Heroes. Now it is important that we look within our own communities and recognise that families of those who in service often live long periods without their loved one, live with worry about their well-being and safety and live with a life of insecurity not knowing where the next posting will take them. Reminding us that it is not just an individual who makes sacrifices when joining the forces.

We have for some time been focusing on those men and women serving, and some of the effects of service. We have neglected to consider the effects of this service on the family. The Help For Heroes’ campaign will do much to redress this balance.

It is now for us, within our communities, to understand and recognise the pressures on some of our service families.