HELPLINE FOR HEROES FROM NOON TODAY

In a stunning victory for MoS campaign, Defence Secretary orders an immediate...

HEROIC British troops suffering battlefield stress will be able to turn to a dedicated round-the-clock helpline for the first time from today – thanks to The Mail on Sunday.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced that the crucial service will be launched from midday – a landmark victory for our hard-hitting Helpline For Heroes campaign.

This newspaper has been calling for the vital move for the past two months in a bid to stem the shocking level of suicides among our Armed Forces.

Now Mr Williamson has pledged an

extra £20million over the next ten years to fund the helpline, and other new mental health initiatives.

Troops and their families are convinced that the long-overdue helpline will reduce the tide of troops suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental conditions.

The Mail on Sunday launched its campaign last month with the former head of the British Army, Lord Dannatt, after the death of Royal Engineer Nathan Hunt. The 39-year-old had previously served in a desert reconnaissance unit with Prince Harry in Afghanistan, where he won a gallantry award for identifying Taliban roadside bombs.

But this extremely dangerous role wrought havoc with his mental health and, suffering from PTSD, he hanged himself on New Year’s Day.

Last night his mother Maria Hunt, 64, said of the new helpline: ‘It is fantastic news, I’m thrilled to bits. I am so glad that something good has come out of Nathan’s death.’

And his widow Lainey, 41, said: ‘This is brilliant news. Soldiers need someone to talk to. A lot of lads are put off talking to doctors and counsellors face-to-face, so the helpline will be very useful.’

The free Military Mental Health Helpline – on 0800 323 4444 – will be funded by the Ministry of Defence and run with the charity Combat Stress, which already provides a more limited service for those who have left the Armed Forces.

Crucially, the new helpline will be integrated with the MoD’s existing mental health services. Officials hope that sharing information will spare troops having to retell their harrowing stories when they call.

Last night, Mr Williamson, said: ‘I want to commend The Mail on Sunday’s Helpline For Heroes campaign for highlighting this critically important and often hidden issue.

‘It is our duty to ensure we do all we can for our world-class personnel. I will be working personally with the service chiefs to make sure there isn’t a single person in the Armed Forces who doesn’t know where to turn in times of trouble.’

The 24/7 helpline was also welcomed by Lord Dannatt, whose previous calls for such an initiative were rejected by top brass who baulked at the costs of setting it up and staffing it with around 40 counsellors with military expertise.

He said: ‘Congratulations to Gavin Williamson and to The Mail on Sunday for realising there was a major issue that affected the mental health of our serving soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, and their families. Sadly, there was no one to save Warrant Officer Nathan Hunt. Now, the helpline is there for all to call in those blackest, flashback moments. We owe so much to those who serve to protect our peace and freedom, the least we can do is make sure we are looking after them 24/7.’

Lord Dannatt’s inspiration in calling for a helpline was former RAF sniper Luke Huskisson, who suffered PTSD after seeing his best friend killed in combat. He had a breakdown at 2am one night, and recalled: ‘I was in a terrible state and was going to kill myself. But there was no help from the military at that time of night. The helpline is too late for me, my career has gone, but it is worth it for all the serving troops who might be suffering in silence.’

Our campaign was also backed by General Sir Mike Jackson; Field Marshal Lord Guthrie; former Gulf War ‘Top Gun’ John Nichol; Chantelle Taylor, the first British woman to kill in combat; and soldiers who won the Military Cross for bravery.

The numbers of troops diagnosed with mental disorders continues to rise, to more than 5,000 cases last year. A record 393 soldiers were medically discharged in 2016/17 due to mental health issues, and around 400 personnel have killed themselves since 1995.

Other members of Prince Harry’s unit suffered mental issues as a result of their service, including a sergeant who tried three times to commit suicide.

‘I’m glad good has come out of Nathan’s death’