Plea for vital support for ex-squaddies
Mark the centenary of the end of World War I by offering more support to ex-squaddies, a councillor has pleaded.
Andy Doig says the fallen can be honoured by ensuring veterans from recent conflicts receive treatment for trauma suffered on the front line.
He insists more must be done to keep demobbed soldiers off the streets and treat mental conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Councillor Doig says too many men suffered a century ago – but this can change for those affected today.
He said: “As we approach the centenary of the end of the Great War, there will not be a family in Renfrewshire that does not have a story to tell about that period.
“One of my grandfathers fought in the Gallipoli campaign against the Turks.
“He suffered from what was then called shell shock – this is now called post-traumatic stress disorder. “He returned a broken man. “I have worked in addictions support for a local charity across Renfrewshire for the last 14 years.
“I have worked with many veterans who, due to suffering from PTSD and various mental health issues resulting from their tours of duty, struggle with this by self medicating with drugs or alcohol.
“They therefore develop a secondary problem to deal with.
“PTSD has a devastating effect on the lives of these men and women.”
Councillor Doig has written to the Secretary of State for Defence to call for more funding for forces charities and services.
Renfrewshire will come to a standstill as those who fought and gave their lives are remembered on November 11 – exactly 100 years since the guns fell silent in World War I.
Services will take place across the region, with veterans of campaigns across the decades honoured.
Councillor Doig says too many return home from service to find they cannot adjust to civilian life.
He added: “Routine tasks like shopping in a crowded area or taking a busy bus or train is so stressful they can find it impossible to function normally.
“This, in turn, leads to further depression and fuels further feelings of hopelessness. In some cases, it leads to suicide.
“It is only compassionate and reasonable that Westminster takes real action to honour the veterans of 1918, like my late grandfather, by substantially increasing funding to charities.
“Causes like Combat Stress do such vital work to support today’s veterans.
“It is not enough to support the troop in theatres of war, we need to support them on the home front when they come back too.”
Research published earlier this month revealed PTSD is more common among ex-forces personnel than the public for the first time.
King’s College London estimates 7.4 per cent of veterans now suffer from the condition – compared to four per cent among the general populace.
The figure is even higher for those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan – at nine per cent.
For veterans deployed to those war zones in a combat role, symptoms were reported among 17 per cent of soldiers and 30 per cent were predicted to develop a mental health condition.
Dr Walter Busuttil, Medical Director at charity Combat Stress, revealed those who returned from the Middle East in the last 15 years are among the worst affected.
He said: “The British Armed Forces play a critical role in securing the safety of our society and, for those who develop trauma-related mental health problems, we believe