The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Veteran’s wife reveals PTSD trauma for Help for Heroes campaign
People urged to come forward to receive mental health support
The wife of an injured Fife war veteran is backing a Help for Heroes campaign encouraging the families of veterans to come forward for mental health support.
Kerry Watson, from Dunfermline, faced a struggle after her husband, Kenny, 28, was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Kenny suffered hearing loss and back injuries after he was caught in two bomb blasts in Afghanistan in 2012 while serving with the 3rd Battalion the Rifles.
He was medically discharged from the army last year and found family life hard to deal with.
Kerry said: “Kenny was emotionless, even though we had a baby, Harris.
“I was excited and happy at Harris’s milestones – putting on weight, sitting up for the first time, smiling.
“But Kenny was in his own little world and the army was all that mattered – he had no enjoyment of things like days out or walking the dogs.”
She admits she found his reactions hard to understand.
The couple eventually sought help and got support from Help for Heroes after Kerry went on a mental health first aid course and alarm bells started ringing.
She added: “The instructor had PTSD herself from serving in the forces and was talking about her own experiences – including having no interest in life.
“Every word she said described Kenny.”
Help for Heroes research indicates 39% of veterans try to cope alone stating that they don’t feel they have the right to seek help, while 43% say they need to be the strong one and 16% admit they would be afraid of appearing weak.
Help for Heroes’ Hidden Wounds initiative provides free and confidential support to ex-service personnel, their families and the families of those still serving, who are living with anxiety, depression, stress, anger or who wish to change their drinking habits.
Karen Mead, the charity’s head of psychological wellbeing, said: “When veterans are struggling, their loved ones can be a force for good.
“We need to remind families that they are an important part of their veteran’s support network and they are just as deserving of support as their veteran.”